persuasion(劝导)-第52章
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freedom； the gaiety of the room was over； hushed into cold
composure； determined silence； or insipid talk； to meet the
heartless elegance of her father and sister。 How mortifying to feel
that it was so！
Her jealous eye was satisfied in one particular。 Captain
Wentworth was acknowledged again by each； by Elizabeth more
graciously than before。 She even addressed him once； and looked
at him more than once。 Elizabeth was； in fact； revolving a great
measure。 The sequel explained it。 After the waste of a few minutes
in saying the proper nothings； she began to give the invitation
which was to comprise all the remaining dues of the Musgroves。
“To…morrow evening； to meet a few friends： no formal party。” It
was all said very gracefully； and the cards with which she had
provided herself； the “Miss Elliot at home；” were laid on the table；
with a courteous； comprehensive smile to all； and one smile and
one card more decidedly for Captain Wentworth。 The truth was；
that Elizabeth had been long enough in Bath to understand the
importance of a man of such an air and appearance as his。 The
past was nothing。 The present was that Captain Wentworth would
move about well in her drawing…room。 The card was pointedly
given； and Sir Walter and Elizabeth arose and disappeared。
The interruption had been short； though severe； and ease and
animation returned to most of those they left as the door shut
them out； but not to Anne。 She could think only of the invitation
she had with such astonishment witnessed； and of the manner in
which it had been received； a manner of doubtful meaning； of
surprise rather than gratification； of polite acknowledgement
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rather than acceptance。 She knew him； she saw disdain in his eye；
and could not venture to believe that he had determined to accept
such an offering； as an atonement for all the insolence of the past。
Her spirits sank。 He held the card in his hand after they were
gone； as if deeply considering it。
“Only think of Elizabeth’s including everybody！” whispered
Mary very audibly。 “I do not wonder Captain Wentworth is
delighted！ You see he cannot put the card out of his hand。”
Anne caught his eye； saw his cheeks glow； and his mouth form
itself into a momentary expression of contempt； and turned away；
that she might neither see nor hear more to vex her。
The party separated。 The gentlemen had their own pursuits；
the ladies proceeded on their own business； and they met no more
while Anne belonged to them。 She was earnestly begged to return
and dine； and give them all the rest of the day； but her spirits had
been so long exerted that at present she felt unequal to more； and
fit only for home； where she might be sure of being as silent as she
chose。
Promising to be with them the whole of the following morning；
therefore； she closed the fatigues of the present by a toilsome walk
to Camden…place； there to spend the evening chiefly in listening to
the busy arrangements of Elizabeth and Mrs。 Clay for the
morrow’s party； the frequent enumeration of the persons invited；
and the continually improving detail of all the embellishments
which were to make it the most completely elegant of its kind in
Bath； while harassing herself with the never…ending question； of
whether Captain Wentworth would come or not？ They were
reckoning him as certain； but with her it was a gnawing solicitude
never appeased for five minutes together。 She generally thought
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he would come； because she generally thought he ought； but it was
a case which she could not so shape into any positive act of duty or
discretion； as inevitably to defy the suggestions of very opposite
feelings。
She only roused herself from the broodings of this restless
agitation； to let Mrs。 Clay know that she had been seen with Mr。
Elliot three hours after his being supposed to be out of Bath； for
having watched in vain for some intimation of the interview from
the lady herself； she determined to mention it； and it seemed to
her there was guilt in Mrs。 Clay’s face as she listened。 It was
transient； cleared away in an instant； but Anne could imagine she
read there the consciousness of having； by some complication of
mutual trick； or some overbearing authority of his； been obliged to
attend （perhaps for half an hour） to his lectures and restrictions on
her designs on Sir Walter。 She exclaimed； however； with a very
tolerable imitation of nature；
“Oh dear！ very true。 Only think； Miss Elliot； to my great
surprise I met with Mr。 Elliot in Bath…street！ I was never more
astonished。 He turned back and walked with me to the Pump
Yard。 He had been prevented setting off for Thornberry； but I
really forget by what—for I was in a hurry； and could not much
attend； and I can only answer for his being determined not to be
delayed in his return。 He wanted to know how early he might be
admitted to…morrow。 He was full of ‘to…morrow；’ and it is very
evident that I have been full of it too； ever since I entered the
house； and learnt the extension of your plan and all that had
happened； or my seeing him could never have gone so entirely out
of my head。”
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CHAPTER XI
ne day only had passed since Anne’s conversation with
Mrs。 Smith； but a keener interest had succeeded； and she
O
was now so little touched by Mr。 Elliot’s conduct； except
by its effects in one quarter； that it became a matter of course the
next morning； still to defer her explanatory visit in Rivers…street。
She had promised to be with the Musgroves from breakfast to
dinner。 Her faith was plighted； and Mr。 Elliot’s character； like the
Sultaness Scheherazade’s head； must live another day。
She could not keep her appointment punctually； however； the
weather was unfavourable； and she had grieved over the rain on
her friends’ account； and felt it very much on her own； before she
was able to attempt the walk。 When she reached the White Hart；
and made her way to the proper apartment； she found herself
neither arriving quite in time； nor the first to arrive。 The party
before her were； Mrs。 Musgrove； talking to Mrs。 Croft； and Captain
Harville to Captain Wentworth； and she immediately heard that
Mary and Henrietta； too impatient to wait； had gone out the
moment it had cleared； but would be back again soon； and that the
strictest injunctions had been left with Mrs。 Musgrove to keep her
there till they returned。 She had only to submit； sit down； be
outwardly composed； and feel herself plunged at once in all the
agitations which she had merely laid her account of tasting a little
before the morning closed。 There was no delay； no waste of time。
She was deep in the happiness of such misery； or the misery of
such happiness； instantly。 Two minutes after her entering the
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room； Captain Wentworth said；
“We will write the letter we were talking of； Harville； now； if
you will give me materials。”
Materials were all at hand； on a separate table； he went to it；
and nearly turning his back to them all； was engrossed by writing。
Mrs。 Musgrove was giving Mrs。 Croft the history of her eldest
daughter’s engagement； and just in that inconvenient tone of voice
which was perfectly audible while it pretended to be a whisper。
Anne felt that she did not belong to the conversation； and yet； as
Captain Harville seemed thoughtful and not disposed to talk； she
could not avoid hearing many undesirable particulars； such as；
“how Mr。 Musgrove and my brother Hayter had met again and
again to talk it over； what my brother Hayter had said one day；
and what Mr。 Musgrove had proposed the next； and what had
occurred to my sister Hayter； and what the young people had
wished； and what I said at first I never could consent to； but was
afterwards persuaded to think might do very well；” and a great
deal in the same style of open…hearted communication—minutiae
which； even with every advantage of taste and delicacy； which
good Mrs。 Musgrove could not give； could be properly interesting
only to the principals。 Mrs。 Croft was attending with great good…
humour； and whenever she spoke at all； it was very sensibly。 Anne
hoped the gentlemen might each be too much self…occupied to
hear。
“And so； ma’am； all these thing considered；” said Mrs。
Musgrove； in her powerful whisper； “though we could have wished
it different； yet； altogether； we did not think it fair to stand out any
longer； for Charles Hayter was quite wild about it； and Henrietta
was pretty near as bad； and so we thought they had better marr
