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“Ay； that we shall。”
“Now I have done；” cried Captain Wentworth。 “When once
married people begin to attack me with； ‘Oh！ you will think very
differently； when you are married。’ I can only say； ‘No； I shall not；’
and then they say again； ‘Yes； you will；’ and there is an end of it。”
He got up and moved away。
“What a great traveller you must have been； ma’am！” said Mrs。
Musgrove to Mrs。 Croft。
“Pretty well； ma’am； in the fifteen years of my marriage； though
many women have done more。 I have crossed the Atlantic four
times； and have been once to the East Indies； and back again； and
only once； besides being in different places about home—Cork；
and Lisbon； and Gibraltar。 But I never went beyond the
Streights—and never was in the West Indies。 We do not call
Bermuda or Bahama； you know； the West Indies。”
Mrs。 Musgrove had not a word to say in dissent； she could not
accuse herself of having ever called them anything in the whole
course of her life。
“And I do assure you； ma’am；” pursued Mrs。 Croft； “that
nothing can exceed the accommodations of a man…of…war； I speak；
you know； of the higher rates。 When you come to a frigate； of
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course； you are more confined—though any reasonable woman
may be perfectly happy in one of them； and I can safely say； that
the happiest part of my life has been spent on board a ship。 While
we were together； you know； there was nothing to be feared。
Thank God！ I have always been blessed with excellent health； and
no climate disagrees with me。 A little disordered always the first
twenty…four hours of going to sea； but never knew what sickness
was afterwards。 The only time I ever really suffered in body or
mind； the only time that I ever fancied myself unwell； or had any
ideas of danger； was the winter that I passed by myself at Deal；
when the Admiral （Captain Croft then） was in the North Seas。 I
lived in perpetual fright at that time； and had all manner of
imaginary complaints from not knowing what to do with myself； or
when I should hear from him next； but as long as we could be
together； nothing ever ailed me； and I never met with the smallest
inconvenience。”
“Aye； to be sure。—Yes； indeed； oh yes！ I am quite of your
opinion； Mrs。 Croft；” was Mrs。 Musgrove’s hearty answer。 “There
is nothing so bad as a separation。 I am quite of your opinion。 I
know what it is； for Mr。 Musgrove always attends the assizes； and I
am so glad when they are over； and he is safe back again。”
The evening ended with dancing。 On its being proposed； Anne
offered her services； as usual； and though her eyes would
sometimes fill with tears as she sat at the instrument； she was
extremely glad to be employed； and desired nothing in return but
to be unobserved。
It was a merry； joyous party； and no one seemed in higher
spirits than Captain Wentworth。 She felt that he had every thing
to elevate him which general attention and deference； and
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especially the attention of all the young women； could do。 The
Miss Hayters； the females of the family of cousins already
mentioned； were apparently admitted to the honour of being in
love with him； and as for Henrietta and Louisa； they both seemed
so entirely occupied by him； that nothing but the continued
appearance of the most perfect good…will between themselves
could have made it credible that they were not decided rivals。 If he
were a little spoilt by such universal； such eager admiration； who
could wonder？
These were some of the thoughts which occupied Anne； while
her fingers were mechanically at work； proceeding for half an
hour together； equally without error； and without consciousness。
Once she felt that he was looking at herself—observing her altered
features； perhaps； trying to trace in them the ruins of the face
which had once charmed him； and once she knew that he must
have spoken of her； she was hardly aware of it； till she heard the
answer； but then she was sure of his having asked his partner
whether Miss Elliot never danced？ The answer was； “Oh； no；
never； she has quite given up dancing。 She had rather play。 She is
never tired of playing。” Once； too； he spoke to her。 She had left the
instrument on the dancing being over； and he had sat down to try
to make out an air which he wished to give the Miss Musgroves an
idea of。 Unintentionally she returned to that part of the room； he
saw her； and； instantly rising； said； with studied politeness；
“I beg your pardon； madam； this is your seat；” and though she
immediately drew back with a decided negative； he was not to be
induced to sit down again。
Anne did not wish for more of such looks and speeches。 His
cold politeness； his ceremonious grace； were worse than any thing。
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CHAPTER IX
aptain Wentworth was come to Kellynch as to a home； to
stay as long as he liked； being as thoroughly the object of
C
the Admiral’s fraternal kindness as of his wife’s。 He had
intended； on first arriving； to proceed very soon into Shropshire；
and visit the brother settled in that country； but the attractions of
Uppercross induced him to put this off。 There was so much of
friendliness； and of flattery； and of everything most bewitching in
his reception there； the old were so hospitable； the young so
agreeable； that he could not but resolve to remain where he was；
and take all the charms and perfections of Edward’s wife upon
credit a little longer。
It was soon Uppercross with him almost every day。 The
Musgroves could hardly be more ready to invite than he to come；
particularly in the morning； when he had no companion at home；
for the Admiral and Mrs。 Croft were generally out of doors
together； interesting themselves in their new possessions； their
grass； and their sheep； and dawdling about in a way not endurable
to a third person； or driving out in a gig； lately added to their
establishment。
Hitherto there had been but one opinion of Captain Wentworth
among the Musgroves and their dependencies。 It was unvarying；
warm admiration everywhere； but this intimate footing was not
more than established； when a certain Charles Hayter returned
among them； to be a good deal disturbed by it； and to think
Captain Wentworth very much in the way。
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Charles Hayter was the eldest of all the cousins； and a very
amiable； pleasing young man； between whom and Henrietta there
had been a considerable appearance of attachment previous to
Captain Wentworth’s introduction。 He was in orders； and having a
curacy in the neighbourhood； where residence was not required；
lived at his father’s house； only two miles from Uppercross。 A
short absence from home had left his fair one unguarded by his
attentions at this critical period； and when he came back he had
the pain of finding very altered manners； and of seeing Captain
Wentworth。
Mrs。 Musgrov