persuasion(劝导)-第6章
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heard it so lately。 Penelope； my dear； can you help me to the name
of the gentleman who lived at Monkford—Mrs。 Croft’s brother？”
But Mrs。 Clay was talking so eagerly with Miss Elliot； that she
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did not hear the appeal。
“I have no conception whom you can mean； Shepherd； I
remember no gentleman resident at Monkford since the time of
old Governor Trent。”
“Bless me！ how very odd！ I shall forget my own name soon； I
suppose。 A name that I am so very well acquainted with； knew the
gentleman so well by sight； seen him a hundred times； came to
consult me once； I remember； about a trespass of one of his
neighbours； farmer’s man breaking into his orchard—wall torn
down—apples stolen； caught in the fact； and afterwards； contrary
to my judgment； submitted to an amicable compromise。 Very odd
indeed！”
After waiting another moment—
“You mean Mr。 Wentworth； I suppose？” said Anne。
Mr。 Shepherd was all gratitude。
“Wentworth was the very name！ Mr。 Wentworth was the very
man。 He had the curacy of Monkford； you know； Sir Walter； some
time back； for two or three years。 Came there about the year —5； I
take it。 You remember him； I am sure。”
“Wentworth？ Oh！ ay；—Mr。 Wentworth； the curate of Monkford。
You misled me by the term gentleman。 I thought you were
speaking of some man of property： Mr。 Wentworth was nobody； I
remember； quite unconnected； nothing to do with the Strafford
family。 One wonders how the names of many of our nobility
become so common。”
As Mr。 Shepherd perceived that this connexion of the Crofts did
them no service with Sir Walter； he mentioned it no more；
returning； with all his zeal； to dwell on the circumstances more
indisputably in their favour； their age； and number； and fortune；
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the high idea they had formed of Kellynch Hall； and extreme
solicitude for the advantage of renting it； making it appear as if
they ranked nothing beyond the happiness of being the tenants of
Sir Walter Elliot： an extraordinary taste； certainly； could they have
been supposed in the secret of Sir Walter’s estimate of the dues of
a tenant。
It succeeded； however； and though Sir Walter must ever look
with an evil eye on anyone intending to inhabit that house； and
think them infinitely too well off in being permitted to rent it on
the highest terms； he was talked into allowing Mr。 Shepherd to
proceed in the treaty； and authorising him to wait on Admiral
Croft； who still remained at Taunton； and fix a day for the house
being seen。
Sir Walter was not very wise； but still he had experience
enough of the world to feel； that a more unobjectionable tenant； in
all essentials； than Admiral Croft bid fair to be； could hardly offer。
So far went his understanding； and his vanity supplied a little
additional soothing； in the Admiral’s situation in life； which was
just high enough； and not too high。 “I have let my house to
Admiral Croft；” would sound extremely well； very much better
than to any mere Mr。 —； a Mr。 （save； perhaps； some half dozen in
the nation；） always needs a note of explanation。 An admiral speaks
his own consequence； and； at the same time； can never make a
baronet look small。 In all their dealings and intercourse； Sir
Walter Elliot must ever have the precedence。
Nothing could be done without a reference to Elizabeth； but her
inclination was growing so strong for a removal； that she was
happy to have it fixed and expedited by a tenant at hand； and not a
word to suspend decision was uttered by her。
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Mr。 Shepherd was completely empowered to act； and no sooner
had such an end been reached； than Anne； who had been a most
attentive listener to the whole； left the room； to seek the comfort of
cool air for her flushed cheeks； and as she walked along a
favourite grove； said； with a gentle sigh； “A few months more； and
he； perhaps； may be walking here。
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CHAPTER IV
e was not Mr。 Wentworth； the former curate of
H Monkford； however suspicious appearances may be；
but a Captain Frederick Wentworth； his brother； who
being made commander in consequence of the action off St
Domingo； and not immediately employed； had come into
Somersetshire； in the summer of 1806； and having no parent
living； found a home for half a year at Monkford。 He was； at that
time； a remarkably fine young man； with a great deal of
intelligence； spirit； and brilliancy； and Anne an extremely pretty
girl； with gentleness； modesty； taste； and feeling。—Half the sum of
attraction； on either side； might have been enough； for he had
nothing to do； and she had hardly anybody to love； but the
encounter of such lavish recommendations could not fail。 They
were gradually acquainted； and when acquainted； rapidly and
deeply in love。 It would be difficult to say which had seen highest
perfection in the other； or which had been the happiest； she； in
receiving his declarations and proposals； or he in having them
accepted。
A short period of exquisite felicity followed； and but a short
one。—Troubles soon arose。 Sir Walter； on being applied to；
without actually withholding his consent； or saying it should never
be； gave it all the negative of great astonishment； great coldness；
great silence； and a professed resolution of doing nothing for his
daughter。 He thought it a very degrading alliance； and Lady
Russell； though with more tempered and pardonable pride；
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received it as a most unfortunate one。
Anne Elliot； with all her claims of birth； beauty； and mind； to
throw herself away at nineteen； involve herself at nineteen in an
engagement with a young man； who had nothing but himself to
recommend him； and no hopes of attaining affluence； but in the
chances of a most uncertain profession； and no connexions to
secure even his farther rise in the profession； would be； indeed； a
throwing away； which she grieved to think of！ Anne Elliot； so
young； known to so few； to be snatched off by a stranger without
alliance or fortune； or rather sunk by him into a state of most
wearing； anxious； youth…killing dependence！ It must not be； if by
any fair interference of friendship； any representations from one
who had almost a mother’s love； and mother’s rights； it would be
prevented。
Captain Wentworth had no fortune。 He had been lucky in his
profession； but spending freely； what had come freely； had
realized nothing。 But he was confident that he should soon be
rich；—full of life and ardour； he knew that he should soon have a
ship； and soon be on a station that would lead to everything he
wanted。 He had always been lucky； he knew he should be so
still。—Such confidence； powerful in its own warmth； and
bewitching in the wit which often expressed it； must have been
enough for Anne； but Lady Russell saw it very differently。—His
sanguine temper； and fearlessness of mind； operated very
differently on her。 She saw in it but an aggravation of the evil。 It
only added a dangerous character to himself。 He was brilliant； he
was headstrong。—Lady Russell had little taste for wit； and of any
thing approaching to imprudence a horror。 She deprecated the
connexion in every light。
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Such opposition； as these feelings produced； was more than
Anne could combat。 Young and gentle as she was； it might yet
have been possible to withstand her father’s ill…will； though
unsoftened by one kind word or look on the part of her sister；—
but Lady Russell； whom she had always loved and relied on； could
not； with such steadiness of opinion； and such tenderness of
manner； be continually advising her in vain。 She was persuaded to
believe the engagement a wrong thing—indiscreet； improper；
hardly capable of success； and not deserving it。 But it was not a
merely selfish caution； under which she acted； in putting an end to
it。 Had she not imagined herself consulting his good； even more
than her own； she could hardly have given him up。—The belief of
being prudent； and self…denying； principally for his advantage； was
her chief consolation；
