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any amusement or variety which Lyme； as a public place； might
offer。 The rooms were shut up； the lodgers almost all gone；
scarcely any family but of the residents left—and； as there is
nothing to admire in the buildings themselves； the remarkable
situation of the town； the principal street almost hurrying into the
water； the walk to the Cobb； skirting round the pleasant little bay；
which； in the season； is animated with bathing machines and
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company； the Cobb itself； its old wonders and new improvements；
with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to the east of the
town； are what the stranger’s eye will seek； and a very strange
stranger it must be； who does not see charms in the immediate
environs of Lyme； to make him wish to know it better。 The scenes
in its neighbourhood； Charmouth； with its high grounds and
extensive sweeps of country； and still more； its sweet； retired bay；
backed by dark cliffs； where fragments of low rock among the
sands； make it the happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide；
for sitting in unwearied contemplation；—the woody varieties of
the cheerful village of Up Lyme； and； above all； Pinny； with its
green chasms between romantic rocks； where the scattered forest
trees and orchards of luxuriant growth； declare that many a
generation must have passed away since the first partial falling of
the cliff prepared the ground for such a state； where a scene so
wonderful and so lovely is exhibited； as may more than equal any
of the resembling scenes of the far…famed Isle of Wight： these
places must be visited； and visited again； to make the worth of
Lyme understood。
The party from Uppercross passing down by the now deserted
and melancholy looking rooms； and still descending； soon found
themselves on the sea shore； and lingering only； as all must linger
and gaze on a first return to the sea； who ever deserved to look on
it at all； proceeded towards the Cobb； equally their object in itself
and on Captain Wentworth’s account； for in a small house； near
the foot of an old pier of unknown date； were the Harvilles settled。
Captain Wentworth turned in to call on his friend； the others
walked on； and he was to join them on the Cobb。
They were by no means tired of wondering and admiring； and
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not even Louisa seemed to feel that they had parted with Captain
Wentworth long； when they saw him coming after them； with
three companions； all well known already； by description； to be
Captain and Mrs。 Harville； and a Captain Benwick； who was
staying with them。
Captain Benwick had some time ago been first lieutenant of the
Laconia； and the account which Captain Wentworth had given of
him； on his return from Lyme before； his warm praise of him as an
excellent young man and an officer； whom he had always valued
highly； which must have stamped him well in the esteem of every
listener； had been followed by a little history of his private life；
which rendered him perfectly interesting in the eyes of all the
ladies。 He had been engaged to Captain Harville’s sister； and was
now mourning her loss。 They had been a year or two waiting for
fortune and promotion。 Fortune came； his prize…money as
lieutenant being great；—promotion； too； came at last； but Fanny
Harville did not live to know it。 She had died the preceding
summer while he was at sea。 Captain Wentworth believed it
impossible for man to be more attached to woman than poor
Benwick had been to Fanny Harville； or to be more deeply
afflicted under the dreadful change。 He considered his disposition
as of the sort which must suffer heavily； uniting very strong
feelings with quiet； serious； and retiring manners； and a decided
taste for reading； and sedentary pursuits。 To finish the interest of
the story； the friendship between him and the Harvilles seemed； if
possible； augmented by the event which closed all their views of
alliance； and Captain Benwick was now living with them entirely。
Captain Harville had taken his present house for half a year； his
taste； and his health； and his fortune； all directing him to a
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residence inexpensive； and by the sea； and the grandeur of the
country； and the retirement of Lyme in the winter； appeared
exactly adapted to Captain Benwick’s state of mind。 The sympathy
and good…will excited towards Captain Benwick was very great。
“And yet；” said Anne to herself； as they now moved forward to
meet the party； “he has not； perhaps； a more sorrowing heart than
I have。 I cannot believe his prospects so blighted for ever。 He is
younger than I am； younger in feeling； if not in fact； younger as a
man。 He will rally again； and be happy with another。”
They all met； and were introduced。 Captain Harville was a tall；
dark man； with a sensible； benevolent countenance； a little lame；
and from strong features and want of health； looking much older
than Captain Wentworth。 Captain Benwick looked； and was； the
youngest of the three； and； compared with either of them； a little
man。 He had a pleasing face and a melancholy air； just as he ought
to have； and drew back from conversation。
Captain Harville； though not equalling Captain Wentworth in
manners； was a perfect gentleman； unaffected； warm； and
obliging。 Mrs。 Harville； a degree less polished than her husband；
seemed； however； to have the same good feelings； and nothing
could be more pleasant than their desire of considering the whole
party as friends of their own； because the friends of Captain
Wentworth； or more kindly hospitable than their entreaties for
their all promising to dine with them。 The dinner； already ordered
at the inn； was at last； though unwillingly； accepted as a excuse；
but they seemed almost hurt that Captain Wentworth should have
brought any such party to Lyme； without considering it as a thing
of course that they should dine with them。
There was so much attachment to Captain Wentworth in all
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this； and such a bewitching charm in a degree of hospitality so
uncommon； so unlike the usual style of give…and…take invitations；
and dinners of formality and display； that Anne felt her spirits not
likely to be benefited by an increasing acquaintance among his
brother…officers。 “These would have been all my friends；” was her
thought； and she had to struggle against a great tendency to
lowness。
On quitting the Cobb； they all went indoors with their new
friends； and found rooms so small as none but those who invite
from the heart could think capable of accommodating so many。
Anne had a moment’s astonishment on the subject herself； but it
was soon lost in the pleasanter feelings which sprang from the
sight of all the ingenious contrivances and nice arrangements of
Captain Harville； to turn the actual space to the best account； to
supply the deficiencies of lodging…house furniture； and defend the
windows and doors against the winter storms to be expected。 The
vari