persuasion(劝导)-第7章
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being prudent； and self…denying； principally for his advantage； was
her chief consolation； under the misery of a parting—a final
parting； and every consolation was required； for she had to
encounter all the additional pain of opinions； on his side； totally
unconvinced and unbending； and of his feeling himself ill used by
so forced a relinquishment。—He had left the country in
consequence。
A few months had seen the beginning and the end of their
acquaintance； but not with a few months ended Anne’s share of
suffering from it。 Her attachment and regrets had； for a long time；
clouded every enjoyment of youth； and an early loss of bloom and
spirits had been their lasting effect。
More than seven years were gone since this little history of
sorrowful interest had reached its close； and time had softened
down much； perhaps nearly all of peculiar attachment to him；—
but she had been too dependent on time alone； no aid had been
given in change of place （except in one visit to Bath soon after the
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rupture；） or in any novelty or enlargement of society。—No one had
ever come within the Kellynch circle； who could bear a
comparison with Frederick Wentworth； as he stood in her
memory。 No second attachment； the only thoroughly natural；
happy； and sufficient cure； at her time of life； had been possible to
the nice tone of her mind； the fastidiousness of her taste； in the
small limits of the society around them。 She had been solicited；
when about two…and…twenty； to change her name； by the young
man； who not long afterwards found a more willing mind in her
younger sister； and Lady Russell had lamented her refusal； for
Charles Musgrove was the eldest son of a man； whose landed
property and general importance； were second； in that country；
only to Sir Walter’s； and of good character and appearance； and
however Lady Russell might have asked yet for something more；
while Anne was nineteen； she would have rejoiced to see her at
twenty…two so respectably removed from the partialities and
injustice of her father’s house； and settled so permanently near
herself。 But in this case； Anne had left nothing for advice to do；
and though Lady Russell； as satisfied as ever with her own
discretion； never wished the past undone； she began now to have
the anxiety which borders on hopelessness for Anne’s being
tempted； by some man of talents and independence； to enter a
state for which she held her to be peculiarly fitted by her warm
affections and domestic habits。
They knew not each other’s opinion； either its constancy or its
change； on the one leading point of Anne’s conduct； for the subject
was never alluded to；—but Anne； at seven…and…twenty； thought
very differently from what she had been made to think at
nineteen。—She did not blame Lady Russell； she did not blame
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 35
herself for having been guided by her； but she felt that were any
young person； in similar circumstances； to apply to her for
counsel； they would never receive any of such certain immediate
wretchedness； such uncertain future good。—She was persuaded
that under every disadvantage of disapprobation at home； and
every anxiety attending his profession； all their probable fears；
delays； and disappointments； she should yet have been a happier
woman in maintaining the engagement； than she had been in the
sacrifice of it； and this； she fully believed； had the usual share； had
even more than the usual share of all such solicitudes and
suspense been theirs； without reference to the actual results of
their case； which； as it happened； would have bestowed earlier
prosperity than could be reasonably calculated on。 All his
sanguine expectations； all his confidence had been justified。 His
genius and ardour had seemed to foresee and to command his
prosperous path。 He had； very soon after their engagement
ceased； got employ； and all that he had told her would follow； had
taken place。 He had distinguished himself； and early gained the
other step in rank； and must now； by successive captures； have
made a handsome fortune。 She had only navy lists and
newspapers for her authority； but she could not doubt his being
rich；—and； in favour of his constancy； she had no reason to believe
him married。
How eloquent could Anne Elliot have been；—how eloquent； at
least； were her wishes on the side of early warm attachment； and a
cheerful confidence in futurity； against that over…anxious caution
which seems to insult exertion and distrust Providence！—She had
been forced into prudence in her youth； she learned romance as
she grew older—the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning。
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With all these circumstances； recollections and feelings； she
could not hear that Captain Wentworth’s sister was likely to live at
Kellynch without a revival of former pain； and many a stroll； and
many a sigh； were necessary to dispel the agitation of the idea。 She
often told herself it was folly； before she could harden her nerves
sufficiently to feel the continual discussion of the Crofts and their
business no evil。 She was assisted； however； by that perfect
indifference and apparent unconsciousness； among the only three
of her own friends in the secret of the past； which seemed almost
to deny any recollection of it。 She could do justice to the
superiority of Lady Russell’s motives in this； over those of her
father and Elizabeth； she could honour all the better feelings of
her calmness—but the general air of oblivion among them was
highly important； from whatever it sprung； and in the event of
Admiral Croft’s really taking Kellynch Hall； she rejoiced anew
over the conviction which had always been most grateful to her； of
the past being known to those three only among her connexions；
by whom no syllable； she believed； would ever be whispered； and
in the trust that among his； the brother only with whom he had
been residing； had received any information of their short…lived
engagement。—That brother had been long removed from the
country—and being a sensible man； and； moreover； a single man
at the time； she had a fond dependence on no human creature’s
having heard of it from him。
The sister； Mrs。 Croft； had then been out of England；
accompanying her husband on a foreign station； and her own
sister； Mary； had been at school while it all occurred—and never
admitted by the pride of some； and the delicacy of others； to the
smallest knowledge of it afterwards。
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With these supports； she hoped that the acquaintance between
herself and the Crofts； which； with Lady Russell； still resident in
Kellynch； and Mary fixed only three miles off； must be anticipated；
need not involve any particular awkwardness。
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 38
CHAPTER V
n the morning appointed for Admiral and Mrs。 Croft’s
seeing Kellynch Hall； Anne found it most natural to take
O
her almost daily walk to Lady Russell’s； and keep out of
the way till all was over； when she found it most natural to be
sorry that she had missed the opportunity of seeing them。
This meeting of the two parties proved highly satisfactory； and
decided the whole business at once。 Each lady was previously well
disposed for an agreement； and saw nothing； therefore； but good
manners in the other； and with regard to the gentlemen； there was
such an hearty good humour； such an open； trusting liberality on
the Admiral’s side； as could not but influence Sir Walter； who had
besides been flattered into his very best and most polished
behaviour by Mr。 Shepherd’s assurances of his being known； by
report； to the Admiral； as a model of good breeding。
The house and grounds； and furniture； were approved； the
Crofts were approved； terms； time； every thing； and every body；
was right； and Mr。 Shepherd’s clerks were set to work； without
there having been a single preliminary difference to modify of all
that “This indenture sheweth。”
Sir Walter； without hesitation； declared the Admiral to be the
best…looking sailor he had ever met with； and went so far as to say；
that if his own man might have had the arranging of his hair； he
should not be ashamed of being seen with him any where； and the
Admiral； with symp
