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the case； only nodded in reply； and walked away。
The girls were now hunting for the Laconia； and Captain
Wentworth could not deny himself the pleasure of taking the
precious volume into his own hands to save them the trouble； and
once more read aloud the little statement of her name and rate；
and present non…commissioned class； observing over it that she
too had been one of the best friends man ever had。
“Ah！ those were pleasant days when I had the Laconia！ How
fast I made money in her。—A friend of mine and I had such a
lovely cruise together off the Western Islands。 Poor Harville；
sister！ You know how much he wanted money—worse than
myself。 He had a wife。—Excellent fellow。 I shall never forget his
happiness。 He felt it all； so much for her sake。—I wished for him
again the next summer； when I had still the same luck in the
Mediterranean。”
“And I am sure； Sir。” said Mrs。 Musgrove； “it was a lucky day
for us； when you were put captain into that ship。 We shall never
forget what you did。”
Her feelings made her speak low； and Captain Wentworth；
hearing only in part； and probably not having Dick Musgrove at all
near his thoughts； looked rather in suspense； and as if waiting for
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more。
“My brother；” whispered one of the girls； “mamma is thinking
of poor Richard。”
“Poor dear fellow！” continued Mrs。 Musgrove； “he was grown
so steady； and such an excellent correspondent； while he was
under your care！ Ah！ it would have been a happy thing； if he had
never left you。 I assure you； Captain Wentworth； we are very sorry
he ever left you。”
There was a momentary expression in Captain Wentworth’s
face at this speech； a certain glance of his bright eye； and curl of
his handsome mouth； which convinced Anne； that instead of
sharing in Mrs。 Musgrove’s kind wishes； as to her son； he had
probably been at some pains to get rid of him； but it was too
transient an indulgence of self…amusement to be detected by any
who understood him less than herself； in another moment he was
perfectly collected and serious； and almost instantly afterwards
coming up to the sofa； on which she and Mrs。 Musgrove were
sitting； took a place by the latter； and entered into conversation
with her； in a low voice； about her son； doing it with so much
sympathy and natural grace； as shewed the kindest consideration
for all that was real and unabsurd in the parent’s feelings。
They were actually on the same sofa； for Mrs。 Musgrove had
most readily made room for him；—they were divided only by Mrs。
Musgrove。 It was no insignificant barrier； indeed。 Mrs。 Musgrove
was of a comfortable； substantial size； infinitely more fitted by
nature to express good cheer and good humour； than tenderness
and sentiment； and while the agitations of Anne’s slender form；
and pensive face； may be considered as very completely screened；
Captain Wentworth should be allowed some credit for the self…
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command with which he attended to her large fat sighings over
the destiny of a son； whom alive nobody had cared for。
Personal size and mental sorrow have certainly no necessary
proportions。 A large bulky figure has as good a right to be in deep
affliction； as the most graceful set of limbs in the world。 But； fair or
not fair； there are unbecoming conjunctions； which reason will
patronize in vain—which taste cannot tolerate—which ridicule
will seize。
The Admiral； after taking two or three refreshing turns about
the room with his hands behind him； being called to order by his
wife； now came up to Captain Wentworth； and without any
observation of what he might be interrupting； thinking only of his
own thoughts； began with—
“If you had been a week later at Lisbon； last spring； Frederick；
you would have been asked to give a passage to Lady Mary
Grierson and her daughters。”
“Should I？ I am glad I was not a week later then。”
The Admiral abused him for his want of gallantry。 He defended
himself； though professing that he would never willingly admit
any ladies on board a ship of his； excepting for a ball； or a visit；
which a few hours might comprehend。
“But； if I know myself；” said he； “this is from no want of
gallantry towards them。 It is rather from feeling how impossible it
is； with all one’s efforts； and all one’s sacrifices； to make the
accommodations on board such as women ought to have。 There
can be no want of gallantry； Admiral； in rating the claims of
women to every personal comfort high—and this is what I do。 I
hate to hear of women on board； or to see them on board； and no
ship under my command shall ever convey a family of ladies
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anywhere； if I can help it。”
This brought his sister upon him。
“Oh！ Frederick！—But I cannot believe it of you。—All idle
refinement！—Women may be as comfortable on board； as in the
best house in England。 I believe I have lived as much on board as
most women； and I know nothing superior to the accommodations
of a man…of…war。 I declare I have not a comfort or an indulgence
about me； even at Kellynch Hall；” （with a kind bow to Anne）；
“beyond what I always had in most of the ships I have lived in； and
they have been five altogether。”
“Nothing to the purpose；” replied her brother。 “You were living
with your husband； and were the only woman on board。”
“But you； yourself； brought Mrs。 Harville； her sister； her cousin；
and three children； round from Portsmouth to Plymouth。 Where
was this superfine； extraordinary sort of gallantry of yours then？”
“All merged in my friendship； Sophia。 I would assist any
brother officer’s wife that I could； and I would bring anything of
Harville’s from the world’s end； if he wanted it。 But do not imagine
that I did not feel it an evil in itself。”
“Depend upon it； they were all perfectly comfortable。”
“I might not like them the better for that perhaps。 Such a
number of women and children have no right to be comfortable on
board。”
“My dear Frederick； you are talking quite idly。 Pray； what
would become of us poor sailors’ wives； who often want to be
conveyed to one port or another； after our husbands； if everybody
had your feelings？”
“My feelings； you see； did not prevent my taking Mrs。 Harville
and all her family to Plymouth。”
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“But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman； and as
if women were all fine ladies； instead of rational creatures。 We
none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days。”
“Ah！ my dear；” said the Admiral； “when he has got a wife； he
will sing a different tune。 When he is married； if we have the good
luck to live to another war； we shall see him do as you and I； and a
great many others； have done。 We shall have him very thankful to
anybody that will bring him his wife。”
“Ay； that we shall。”
“Now I have done；” cried Captain Wentworth。 “When o