persuasion(劝导)-第47章
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do。 Mr。 Elliot’s having any views on me will not in the least
account for the efforts he made towards a reconciliation with my
father。 That was all prior to my coming to Bath。 I found them on
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the most friendly terms when I arrived。”
“I know you did； I know it all perfectly； but—”
“Indeed； Mrs。 Smith； we must not expect to get real information
in such a line。 Facts or opinions which are to pass through the
hands of so many； to be misconceived by folly in one； and
ignorance in another； can hardly have much truth left。”
“Only give me a hearing。 You will soon be able to judge of the
general credit due； by listening to some particulars which you can
yourself immediately contradict or confirm。 Nobody supposes that
you were his first inducement。 He had seen you indeed； before he
came to Bath； and admired you； but without knowing it to be you。
So says my historian； at least。 Is this true？ Did he see you last
summer or autumn； ‘somewhere down in the west；’ to use her own
words； without knowing it to be you？”
“He certainly did。 So far it is very true。 At Lyme。 I happened to
be at Lyme。”
“Well；” continued Mrs。 Smith； triumphantly； “grant my friend
the credit due to the establishment of the first point asserted。 He
saw you then at Lyme； and liked you so well as to be exceedingly
pleased to meet with you again in Camden…place； as Miss Anne
Elliot； and from that moment； I have no doubt； had a double
motive in his visits there。 But there was another； and an earlier；
which I will now explain。 If there is anything in my story which
you know to be either false or improbable； stop me。 My account
states； that your sister’s friend； the lady now staying with you；
whom I have heard you mention； came to Bath with Miss Elliot
and Sir Walter as long ago as September （in short when they first
came themselves）； and has been staying there ever since； that she
is a clever； insinuating； handsome woman； poor and plausible； and
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altogether such in situation and manner； as to give a general idea；
among Sir Walter’s acquaintance； of her meaning to be Lady
Elliot； and as general a surprise that Miss Elliot should be
apparently blind to the danger。”
Here Mrs。 Smith paused a moment； but Anne had not a word to
say； and she continued；
“This was the light in which it appeared to those who knew the
family； long before you returned to it； and Colonel Wallis had his
eye upon your father enough to be sensible of it； though he did not
then visit in Camden…place； but his regard for Mr。 Elliot gave him
an interest in watching all that was going on there； and when Mr。
Elliot came to Bath for a day or two； as he happened to do a little
before Christmas； Colonel Wallis made him acquainted with the
appearance of things； and the reports beginning to prevail。—Now
you are to understand； that time had worked a very material
change in Mr。 Elliot’s opinions as to the value of a baronetcy。
Upon all points of blood and connexion he is a completely altered
man。 Having long had as much money as he could spend； nothing
to wish for on the side of avarice or indulgence； he has been
gradually learning to pin his happiness upon the consequence he
is heir to。 I thought it coming on before our acquaintance ceased；
but it is now a confirmed feeling。 He cannot bear the idea of not
being Sir William。 You may guess； therefore； that the news he
heard from his friend could not be very agreeable； and you may
guess what it produced； the resolution of coming back to Bath as
soon as possible； and of fixing himself here for a time； with the
view of renewing his former acquaintance； and recovering such a
footing in the family as might give him the means of ascertaining
the degree of his danger； and of circumventing the lady if he found
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it material。 This was agreed upon between the two friends as the
only thing to be done； and Colonel Wallis was to assist in every
way that he could。 He was to be introduced； and Mrs。 Wallis was to
be introduced； and everybody was to be introduced。 Mr。 Elliot
came back accordingly； and on application was forgiven； as you
know； and re…admitted into the family； and there it was his
constant object； and his only object （till your arrival added another
motive）； to watch Sir Walter and Mrs。 Clay。 He omitted no
opportunity of being with them； threw himself in their way； called
at all hours； but I need not be particular on this subject。 You can
imagine what an artful man would do； and with this guide；
perhaps； may recollect what you have seen him do。”
“Yes；” said Anne； “you tell me nothing which does not accord
with what I have known； or could imagine。 There is always
something offensive in the details of cunning。 The manoeuvres of
selfishness and duplicity must ever be revolting； but I have heard
nothing which really surprises me。 I know those who would be
shocked by such a representation of Mr。 Elliot； who would have
difficulty in believing it； but I have never been satisfied。 I have
always wanted some other motive for his conduct than
appeared。—I should like to know his present opinion； as to the
probability of the event he has been in dread of； whether he
considers the danger to be lessening or not。”
“Lessening； I understand；” replied Mrs。 Smith。 “He thinks Mrs。
Clay afraid of him； aware that he sees through her； and not daring
to proceed as she might do in his absence。 But since he must be
absent some time or other； I do not perceive how he can ever be
secure while she holds her present influence。 Mrs。 Wallis has an
amusing idea； as nurse tells me； that it is to be put into the
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marriage articles when you and Mr。 Elliot marry； that your father
is not to marry Mrs。 Clay。 A scheme； worthy of Mrs。 Wallis’s
understanding； by all accounts； but my sensible nurse Rooke sees
the absurdity of it。—‘Why； to be sure； ma’am；’ said she； ‘it would
not prevent his marrying anybody else。’ And； indeed； to own the
truth； I do not think nurse； in her heart； is a very strenuous
opposer of Sir Walter’s making a second match。 She must be
allowed to be a favourer of matrimony； you know； and （since self
will intrude） who can say that she may not have some flying
visions of attending the next Lady Elliot； through Mrs。 Wallis’s
recommendation？”
“I am very glad to know all this；” said Anne； after a little
thoughtfulness。 “It will be more painful to me in some respects to
be in company with him； but I shall know better what to do。 My
line of conduct will be more direct。 Mr。 Elliot is evidently a
disingenuous； artificial； worldly man； who has never had any
better principle to guide him than selfishness。”
But Mr。 Elliot was not done with。 Mrs。 Smith had been carried
away from her first direction； and Anne had forgotten； in the
interest of her own family concerns； how much had been originally
implied against him； but her attention was now called to the
explanation of those first hints； and she listened to a recital which；
if it did not perfectly justify the unqualified bitterness of Mrs。
Smith； proved him to have been very unfeeling in his conduct
towards her； very deficient both in justice and compassion。
She learned that （the intimacy between them continuing
unimpaired by Mr。 Elliot’s marriage） they had been as before
always together； and Mr。 Elliot had led his friend into expenses
much beyond his fortune。 Mrs。 Smith did not want to take blame
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to herself； and was most tender of throwing any on her husband；
but Anne could collect that their income had never been equal to
their style of living； and that from the first there had been a great
deal of general and joint extravagance。 From his wife’s account of
him she could discern Mr。 Smith to have been a man of warm
feelings； easy temper； careless habits； and not strong
understanding； much more amiable than his friend； and very
unlike him； led by him； and probably despised by him。 Mr。 Elliot；
raised by his marriage to great affluence； and disposed to every
gratification of pleasure and vanity which could be commanded
without involving himself （for with all his self…indulgence he had
become a prudent man）； and beginning to be rich； just as his
friend ought to have found himself to be poor； seemed to have had
no concern at all for that friend’s probable finances； but； on the
contrary； had been prompting and encouraging expenses which
could end only in ruin。 And
