persuasion(劝导)-第53章
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longer； for Charles Hayter was quite wild about it； and Henrietta
was pretty near as bad； and so we thought they had better marry
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at once； and make the best of it； as many others have done before
them。 At any rate； said I； it will be better than a long engagement。”
“That is precisely what I was going to observe；” cried Mrs。
Croft。 “I would rather have young people settle on a small income
at once； and have to struggle with a few difficulties together； than
be involved in a long engagement。 I always think that no mutual—
”
“Oh！ dear Mrs。 Croft；” cried Mrs。 Musgrove； unable to let her
finish her speech； “there is nothing I so abominate for young
people as a long engagement。 It is what I always protested against
for my children。 It is all very well； I used to say； for young people
to be engaged； if there is a certainty of their being able to marry in
six months； or even in twelve； but a long engagement—”
“Yes； dear ma’am；” said Mrs。 Croft； “or an uncertain
engagement； an engagement which may be long。 To begin without
knowing that at such a time there will be the means of marrying； I
hold to be very unsafe and unwise； and what I think all parents
should prevent as far as they can。”
Anne found an unexpected interest here。 She felt its application
to herself； felt it in a nervous thrill all over her； and at the same
moment that her eyes instinctively glanced towards the distant
table； Captain Wentworth’s pen ceased to move； his head was
raised； pausing； listening； and he turned round the next instant to
give a look—one quick； conscious look at her。
The two ladies continued to talk； to re…urge the same admitted
truths； and enforce them with such examples of the ill effect of a
contrary practice as had fallen within their observation； but Anne
heard nothing distinctly； it was only a buzz of words in her ear；
her mind was in confusion。
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Captain Harville； who had in truth been hearing none of it； now
left his seat； and moved to a window； and Anne seeming to watch
him； though it was from thorough absence of mind； became
gradually sensible that he was inviting her to join him where he
stood。 He looked at her with a smile； and a little motion of the
head； which expressed； “Come to me； I have something to say；”
and the unaffected； easy kindness of manner which denoted the
feelings of an older acquaintance than he really was； strongly
enforced the invitation。 She roused herself and went to him。 The
window at which he stood was at the other end of the room from
where the two ladies were sitting； and though nearer to Captain
Wentworth’s table； not very near。 As she joined him； Captain
Harville’s countenance re…assumed the serious； thoughtful
expression which seemed its natural character。
“Look here；” said he； unfolding a parcel in his hand； and
displaying a small miniature painting； “do you know who that is？”
“Certainly； Captain Benwick。”
“Yes； and you may guess who it is for。 But” （in a deep tone） “it
was not done for her。 Miss Elliot； do you remember our walking
together at Lyme； and grieving for him？ I little thought then—but
no matter。 This was drawn at the Cape。 He met with a clever
young German artist at the Cape； and in compliance with a
promise to my poor sister； sat to him； and was bringing it home for
her； and I have now the charge of getting it properly set for
another！ It was a commission to me！ But who else was there to
employ？ I hope I can allow for him。 I am not sorry； indeed； to
make it over to another。 He undertakes it”—（looking towards
Captain Wentworth） “he is writing about it now。” And with a
quivering lip he wound up the whole by adding； “Poor Fanny！ she
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would not have forgotten him so soon！”
“No；” replied Anne； in a low； feeling voice。 “That I can easily
believe。”
“It was not in her nature。 She doated on him。”
“It would not be the nature of any woman who truly loved。”
Captain Harville smiled； as much as to say； “Do you claim that
for your sex？” and she answered the question； smiling also； “Yes。
We certainly do not forget you as soon as you forget us。 It is；
perhaps； our fate rather than our merit。 We cannot help ourselves。
We live at home； quiet； confined； and our feelings prey upon us。
You are forced on exertion。 You have always a profession；
pursuits； business of some sort or other； to take you back into the
world immediately； and continual occupation and change soon
weaken impressions。”
“Granting your assertion that the world does all this so soon for
men （which； however； I do not think I shall grant）； it does not
apply to Benwick。 He has not been forced upon any exertion。 The
peace turned him on shore at the very moment； and he has been
living with us； in our little family circle； ever since。”
“True；” said Anne； “very true； I did not recollect； but what shall
we say now； Captain Harville？ If the change be not from outward
circumstances； it must be from within； it must be nature； man’s
nature； which has done the business for Captain Benwick。”
“No； no； it is not man’s nature。 I will not allow it to be more
man’s nature than woman’s to be inconstant and forget those they
do love； or have loved。 I believe the reverse。 I believe in a true
analogy between our bodily frames and our mental； and that as
our bodies are the strongest； so are our feelings； capable of
bearing most rough usage； and riding out the heaviest weather。”
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“Your feelings may be the strongest；” replied Anne； “but the
same spirit of analogy will authorise me to assert that ours are the
most tender。 Man is more robust than woman； but he is not
longer…lived； which exactly explains my view of the nature of their
attachments。 Nay； it would be too hard upon you； if it were
otherwise。 You have difficulties； and privations； and dangers
enough to struggle with。 You are always labouring and toiling；
exposed to every risk and hardship。 Your home； country； friends；
all quitted。 Neither time； nor health； nor life； to be called your
own。 It would be hard； indeed” （with a faltering voice）； “if
woman’s feelings were to be added to all this。”
“We shall never agree upon this question”—Captain Harville
was beginning to say； when a slight noise called their attention to
Captain Wentworth’s hitherto perfectly quiet division of the room。
It was nothing more than that his pen had fallen down； but Anne
was startled at finding him nearer than she had supposed； and half
inclined to suspect that the pen had only fallen because he had
been occupied by them； striving to catch sounds； which yet she did
not think he could have caught。
“Have you finished your letter？” said Captain Harville。
“Not quite； a few lines more。 I shall have done in five minutes。”
“There is no hurry on my side。 I am only ready whenever you
are。—I am in very good anchorage here；” （smiling at Anne；） “well
supplied； and want for nothing。—No hurry for a signal at all。—
Well； Miss Elliot；” （lowering his voice） “as I was saying we shall
never agree； I suppose； upon this point。 No man and woman
would； probably。 But let me observe that all histories are against
you—all stories； prose and verse。 If I had such a memory as
Benwick； I could bring you fifty quotations in a moment on my
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side the argument； and I do not think I ever opened a book in my
life which had not something to say upon woman’s inconstancy。
Songs and proverbs； all talk of woman’s fickleness。 But perhaps
you will say； these were all written by men。”
“Perhaps I shall。—Yes； yes； if you please； no reference to
examples in books。 Men have had every advantage of us in telling
their own story。 Education has been theirs in so much higher a
degree； the pen has been in their hands。 I will not allow books to
prove any thing。”
“But how shall we prove any thing？”
“We never shall。 We never can expect to prove any thing upon
such a point。 It is a difference of opinion which does not admit of
proof。 We each begin； probably； with a little bias towards our own
sex； and upon that bias build every circumstance in favour of it
which has occurred within our own circle； many of which
circumstances （perhaps those very cases which strike us the most）
may be precisely such as cannot be brought forward without
betraying a confidence； or in some respect saying what should not
be said。”
“Ah！” cried Captain Harville
