persuasion(劝导)-第44章
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 218
CHAPTER IX
nne recollected with pleasure the next morning her
Apromise of going to Mrs。 Smith； meaning that it should
engage her from home at the time when Mr。 Elliot would
be most likely to call； for to avoid Mr。 Elliot was almost a first
object。
She felt a great deal of good…will towards him。 In spite of the
mischief of his attentions； she owed him gratitude and regard；
perhaps compassion。 She could not help thinking much of the
extraordinary circumstances attending their acquaintance； of the
right which he seemed to have to interest her； by everything in
situation； by his own sentiments； by his early prepossession。 It was
altogether very extraordinary。—Flattering； but painful。 There was
much to regret。 How she might have felt had there been no
Captain Wentworth in the case； was not worth enquiry； for there
was a Captain Wentworth； and be the conclusion of the present
suspense good or bad； her affection would be his for ever。 Their
union； she believed； could not divide her more from other men；
than their final separation。
Prettier musings of high…wrought love and eternal constancy；
could never have passed along the streets of Bath； than Anne was
sporting with from Camden…place to Westgate…buildings。 It was
almost enough to spread purification and perfume all the way。
She was sure of a pleasant reception； and her friend seemed
this morning particularly obliged to her for coming； seemed hardly
to have expected her； though it had been an appointment。
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An account of the concert was immediately claimed； and Anne’s
recollections of the concert were quite happy enough to animate
her features and make her rejoice to talk of it。 All that she could
tell she told most gladly； but the all was little for one who had been
there； and unsatisfactory for such an enquirer as Mrs。 Smith； who
had already heard； through the short cut of a laundress and a
waiter； rather more of the general success and produce of the
evening than Anne could relate； and who now asked in vain for
several particulars of the company。 Every body of any
consequence or notoriety in Bath was well know by name to Mrs。
Smith。
“The little Durands were there； I conclude；” said she； “with
their mouths open to catch the music； like unfledged sparrows
ready to be fed。 They never miss a concert。”
“Yes； I did not see them myself； but I heard Mr。 Elliot say they
were in the room。”
“The Ibbotsons—were they there？ and the two new beauties；
with the tall Irish officer； who is talked of for one of them。”
“I do not know。—I do not think they were。”
“Old Lady Mary Maclean？ I need not ask after her。 She never
misses； I know； and you must have seen her。 She must have been
in your own circle； for as you went with Lady Dalrymple； you were
in the seats of grandeur； round the orchestra； of course。”
“No； that was what I dreaded。 It would have been very
unpleasant to me in every respect。 But happily Lady Dalrymple
always chooses to be farther off； and we were exceedingly well
placed—that is； for hearing； I must not say for seeing； because I
appear to have seen very little。”
“Oh！ you saw enough for your own amusement。—I can
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understand。 There is a sort of domestic enjoyment to be known
even in a crowd； and this you had。 You were a large party in
yourselves； and you wanted nothing beyond。”
“But I ought to have looked about me more；” said Anne；
conscious while she spoke that there had in fact been no want of
looking about； that the object only had been deficient。
“No； no—you were better employed。 You need not tell me that
you had a pleasant evening。 I see it in your eye。 I perfectly see how
the hours passed—that you had always something agreeable to
listen to。 In the intervals of the concert it was conversation。
Anne half smiled and said； “Do you see that in my eye？”
“Yes； I do。 Your countenance perfectly informs me that you
were in company last night with the person whom you think the
most agreeable in the world； the person who interests you at this
present time more than all the rest of the world put together。”
A blush overspread Anne’s cheeks。 She could say nothing。
“And such being the case；” continued Mrs。 Smith； after a short
pause； “I hope you believe that I do know how to value your
kindness in coming to me this morning。 It is really very good of
you to come and sit with me； when you must have so many
pleasanter demands upon your time。”
Anne heard nothing of this。 She was still in the astonishment
and confusion excited by her friend’s penetration； unable to
imagine how any report of Captain Wentworth could have reached
her。 After another short silence—
“Pray；” said Mrs。 Smith； “is Mr。 Elliot aware of your
acquaintance with me？ Does he know that I am in Bath？”
“Mr。 Elliot！” repeated Anne； looking up surprised。 A moment’s
reflection shewed her the mistake she had been under。 She caught
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it instantaneously； and recovering her courage with the feeling of
safety； soon added； more composedly； “Are you acquainted with
Mr。 Elliot？”
“I have been a good deal acquainted with him；” replied Mrs。
Smith； gravely； “but it seems worn out now。 It is a great while
since we met。”
“I was not at all aware of this。 You never mentioned it before。
Had I known it； I would have had the pleasure of talking to him
about you。”
“To confess the truth；” said Mrs。 Smith； assuming her usual air
of cheerfulness； “that is exactly the pleasure I want you to have。 I
want you to talk about me to Mr。 Elliot。 I want your interest with
him。 He can be of essential service to me； and if you would have
the goodness； my dear Miss Elliot； to make it an object to yourself；
of course it is done。”
“I should be extremely happy—I hope you cannot doubt my
willingness to be of even the slightest use to you；” replied Anne；
“but I suspect that you are considering me as having a higher
claim on Mr。 Elliot—a greater right to influence him； than is really
the case。 I am sure you have； somehow or other； imbibed such a
notion。 You must consider me only as Mr。 Elliot’s relation。 If in
that light there is anything which you suppose his cousin might
fairly ask of him； I beg you would not hesitate to employ me。”
Mrs。 Smith gave her a penetrating glance； and then； smiling；
said—
“I have been a little premature； I perceive。 I beg your pardon。 I
ought to have waited for official information。 But now； my dear
Miss Elliot； as an old friend； do give me a hint as to when I may
speak。 Next week？ To be sure by next week I may be allowed to
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think it all settled； and build my own selfish schemes on Mr。
Elliot’s good fortune。”
“No；” replied Anne； “nor next week； nor next； nor next。 I assure
you that nothing of the sort you are thinking of will be settled any
week。 I am not going to marry Mr。 Elliot。 I should like to know
why you imagine I am？”
Mrs。 Smith looked at her again； looked earnestly； smiled； shook
her head； and exclaimed—
“Now； how I do wish I understood you！ How I do wish I knew
what you were at！ I have a great idea that you do not design to be
cruel； when the right moment occurs。 Till it does come； you know；
we women never mean to have anybody。 It is a thing of course
among us； that every man is refused—till he offers。 But why
should you be cruel？ Let me plead for my—present friend I cannot
call him—but for my former friend。 Where can you look for a more
suitable match？ Where could you expect a more gentlemanlike；
agreeable man？ Let me recommend Mr。 Elliot。 I am sure you hear
nothing but good of him from Colonel Wallis； and who can know
him better than Colonel Wallis？”
“My dear Mrs。 Smith； Mr。 Elliot’s wife has not been dead much
above half a year。 He ought not to be supposed to be paying his
addresses to any one。”
“Oh！ if these are your only objections；” cried Mrs。 Smith；
archly； “Mr。 Elliot is safe； and I shall give myself no more trouble
about him。 Do not forget me when you are married； that’s all。 Let
him know me to be a friend of yours； and then he will think little of
the trouble required； which it is very natural for him now； with so
many affairs and engagements of his own； to avoid and get rid of
as he can—very natural； perhaps。 Ninety…nine out of a hundred
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would do the same。 Of course； he cannot be
