persuasion(劝导)-第57章
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have been used to the gratification of believing myself to earn
every blessing that I enjoyed。 I have valued myself on honourable
toils and just rewards。 Like other great men under reverses；” he
added； with a smile； “I must endeavour to subdue my mind to my
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fortune。 I must learn to brook being happier than I deserve。”
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CHAPTER XII
ho can be in doubt of what followed？ When any two
Wyoung people take it into their heads to marry； they are
pretty sure by perseverance to carry their point； be
they ever so poor； or ever so imprudent； or ever so little likely to
be necessary to each other’s ultimate comfort。 This may be bad
morality to conclude with； but I believe it to be truth； and if such
parties succeed； how should a Captain Wentworth and an Anne
Elliot； with the advantage of maturity of mind； consciousness of
right； and one independent fortune between them； fail of bearing
down every opposition？ They might in fact； have borne down a
great deal more than they met with； for there was little to distress
them beyond the want of graciousness and warmth。—Sir Walter
made no objection； and Elizabeth did nothing worse than look cold
and unconcerned。 Captain Wentworth； with five…and…twenty
thousand pounds； and as high in his profession as merit and
activity could place him； was no longer nobody。 He was now
esteemed quite worthy to address the daughter of a foolish；
spendthrift baronet； who had not had principle or sense enough to
maintain himself in the situation in which Providence had placed
him； and who could give his daughter at present but a small part
of the share of ten thousand pounds which must be hers hereafter。
Sir Walter； indeed； though he had no affection for Anne； and no
vanity flattered； to make him really happy on the occasion； was
very far from thinking it a bad match for her。 On the contrary；
when he saw more of Captain Wentworth； saw him repeatedly by
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daylight； and eyed him well； he was very much struck by his
personal claims； and felt that his superiority of appearance might
be not unfairly balanced against her superiority of rank； and all
this； assisted by his well…sounding name； enabled Sir Walter at last
to prepare his pen； with a very good grace； for the insertion of the
marriage in the volume of honour。
The only one among them； whose opposition of feeling could
excite any serious anxiety was Lady Russell。 Anne knew that Lady
Russell must be suffering some pain in understanding and
relinquishing Mr。 Elliot； and be making some struggles to become
truly acquainted with； and do justice to Captain Wentworth。 This
however was what Lady Russell had now to do。 She must learn to
feel that she had been mistaken with regard to both； that she had
been unfairly influenced by appearances in each； that because
Captain Wentworth’s manners had not suited her own ideas； she
had been too quick in suspecting them to indicate a character of
dangerous impetuosity； and that because Mr。 Elliot’s manners had
precisely pleased her in their propriety and correctness； their
general politeness and suavity； she had been too quick in receiving
them as the certain result of the most correct opinions and well…
regulated mind。 There was nothing less for Lady Russell to do；
than to admit that she had been pretty completely wrong； and to
take up a new set of opinions and of hopes。
There is a quickness of perception in some； a nicety in the
discernment of character； a natural penetration； in short； which no
experience in others can equal； and Lady Russell had been less
gifted in this part of understanding than her young friend。 But she
was a very good woman； and if her second object was to be
sensible and well…judging； her first was to see Anne happy。 She
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loved Anne better than she loved her own abilities； and when the
awkwardness of the beginning was over； found little hardship in
attaching herself as a mother to the man who was securing the
happiness of her other child。
Of all the family； Mary was probably the one most immediately
gratified by the circumstance。 It was creditable to have a sister
married； and she might flatter herself with having been greatly
instrumental to the connexion； by keeping Anne with her in the
autumn； and as her own sister must be better than her husband’s
sisters； it was very agreeable that Captain Wentworth should be a
richer man than either Captain Benwick or Charles Hayter。—She
had something to suffer； perhaps； when they came into contact
again； in seeing Anne restored to the rights of seniority； and the
mistress of a very pretty landaulette； but she had a future to look
forward to； of powerful consolation。 Anne had no Uppercross Hall
before her； no landed estate； no headship of a family； and if they
could but keep Captain Wentworth from being made a baronet；
she would not change situations with Anne。
It would be well for the eldest sister if she were equally satisfied
with her situation； for a change is not very probable there。 She
had soon the mortification of seeing Mr。 Elliot withdraw； and no
one of proper condition has since presented himself to raise even
the unfounded hopes which sunk with him。
The news of his cousins Anne’s engagement burst on Mr。 Elliot
most unexpectedly。 It deranged his best plan of domestic
happiness； his best hope of keeping Sir Walter single by the
watchfulness which a son…in…law’s rights would have given。 But；
though discomfited and disappointed； he could still do something
for his own interest and his own enjoyment。 He soon quitted Bath；
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and on Mrs。 Clay’s quitting it soon afterwards； and being next
heard of as established under his protection in London； it was
evident how double a game he had been playing； and how
determined he was to save himself from being cut out by one artful
woman； at least。
Mrs。 Clay’s affections had overpowered her interest； and she
had sacrificed； for the young man’s sake； the possibility of
scheming longer for Sir Walter。 She has abilities； however； as well
as affections； and it is now a doubtful point whether his cunning；
or hers； may finally carry the day； whether； after preventing her
from being the wife of Sir Walter； he may not be wheedled and
caressed at last into making her the wife of Sir William。
It cannot be doubted that Sir Walter and Elizabeth were
shocked and mortified by the loss of their companion； and the
discovery of their deception in her。 They had their great cousins；
to be sure； to resort to for comfort； but they must long feel that to
flatter and follow others； without being flattered and followed in
turn； is but a state of half enjoyment。
Anne； satisfied at a very early period of Lady Russell’s meaning
to love Captain Wentworth as she ought； had no other alloy to the
happiness of her prospects than what arose from the
consciousness of having no relations to bestow on him which a
man of sense could value。 There she felt her own inferiority very
keenly。 The disproportion in their fortune was nothing； it did not
give her a moment’s regret； but to have no family to receive and
estimate him properly； nothing of respectability； of harmony； of
good will to offer in return for all the worth and all the prompt
welcome which met her in his brothers and sisters； was a source of
as lively pain as her mind could well be sensible of under
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circumstances of otherwise strong felicity。 She had but two friends
in the world to add to his list； Lady Russell and Mrs。 Smith。 To
those； however； he was very well disposed to attach himself。 Lady
Russell； in spite of all her former transgressions； he could now
value from his heart。 While he was not obliged to say that he
believed her to have been right in originally dividing them； he was
ready to say almost everything else in her favour； and as for Mrs。
Smith； she had claims of various kinds to recommend her quickly
and permanently。
Her recent good offices by Anne had been enough in
themselves； and their marriage； instead of depriving her of one
friend； secured her two。 She was their earliest visitor in their
settled life； and Captain Wentworth； by putting her in the way of
recovering her husband’s property in the West Indies； by writing
for her； acting
