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“Well； she is to marry him。 Nay； most likely they are married
already； for I do not know what they should wait for。”
“I thought Captain Benwick a very pleasing young man；” said
Anne； “and I understand that he bears an excellent character。”
“Oh！ yes； yes； there is not a word to be said against James
Benwick。 He is only a commander； it is true； made last summer；
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and these are bad times for getting on； but he has not another fault
that I know of。 An excellent； good…hearted fellow； I assure you； a
very active； zealous officer too； which is more than you would
think for； perhaps； for that soft sort of manner does not do him
justice。”
“Indeed you are mistaken there； sir； I should never augur want
of spirit from Captain Benwick’s manners。 I thought them
particularly pleasing； and I will answer for it； they would generally
please。”
“Well； well； ladies are the best judges； but James Benwick is
rather too piano for me； and though very likely it is all our
partiality； Sophy and I cannot help thinking Frederick’s manners
better than his。 There is something about Frederick more to our
taste。”
Anne was caught。 She had only meant to oppose the too
common idea of spirit and gentleness being incompatible with
each other； not at all to represent Captain Benwick’s manners as
the very best that could possibly be； and； after a little hesitation；
she was beginning to say； “I was not entering into any comparison
of the two friends；” but the Admiral interrupted her with；
“And the thing is certainly true。 It is not a mere bit of gossip。
We have it from Frederick himself。 His sister had a letter from him
yesterday； in which he tells us of it； and he had just had it in a
letter from Harville； written upon the spot； from Uppercross。 I
fancy they are all at Uppercross。”
This was an opportunity which Anne could not resist； she said；
therefore； “I hope； Admiral； I hope there is nothing in the style of
Captain Wentworth’s letter to make you and Mrs。 Croft
particularly uneasy。 It did seem； last autumn； as if there were an
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attachment between him and Louisa Musgrove； but I hope it may
be understood to have worn out on each side equally； and without
violence。 I hope his letter does not breathe the spirit of an ill…used
man。”
“Not at all； not at all； there is not an oath or a murmur from
beginning to end。”
Anne looked down to hide her smile。
“No； no； Frederick is not a man to whine and complain； he has
too much spirit for that。 If the girl likes another man better； it is
very fit she should have him。”
“Certainly。 But what I mean is； that I hope there is nothing in
Captain Wentworth’s manner of writing to make you suppose he
thinks himself ill…used by his friend； which might appear； you
know； without its being absolutely said。 I should be very sorry that
such a friendship as has subsisted between him and Captain
Benwick should be destroyed； or even wounded； by a
circumstance of this sort。”
“Yes； yes； I understand you。 But there is nothing at all of that
nature in the letter。 He does not give the least fling at Benwick；
does not so much as say； ‘I wonder at it； I have a reason of my own
for wondering at it。’ No； you would not guess； from his way of
writing； that he had ever thought of this Miss （what’s her name？）
for himself。 He very handsomely hopes they will be happy
together； and there is nothing very unforgiving in that； I think。”
Anne did not receive the perfect conviction which the Admiral
meant to convey； but it would have been useless to press the
enquiry farther。 She therefore satisfied herself with common…place
remarks or quiet attention； and the Admiral had it all his own way。
“Poor Frederick！” said he at last。 “Now he must begin all over
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again with somebody else。 I think we must get him to Bath。 Sophy
must write； and beg him to come to Bath。 Here are pretty girls
enough； I am sure。 It would be of no use to go to Uppercross again；
for that other Miss Musgrove； I find； is bespoke by her cousin； the
young parson。 Do not you think； Miss Elliot； we had better try to
get him to Bath？”
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CHAPTER VII
hile Admiral Croft was taking this walk with Anne； and
Wexpressing his wish of getting Captain Wentworth to
Bath； Captain Wentworth was already on his way
thither。 Before Mrs。 Croft had written； he was arrived； and the
very next time Anne walked out； she saw him。
Mr。 Elliot was attending his two cousins and Mrs。 Clay。 They
were in Milsom…street。 It began to rain； not much； but enough to
make shelter desirable for women； and quite enough to make it
very desirable for Miss Elliot to have the advantage of being
conveyed home in Lady Dalrymple’s carriage； which was seen
waiting at a little distance； she； Anne； and Mrs。 Clay； therefore；
turned into Molland’s； while Mr。 Elliot stepped to Lady Dalrymple；
to request her assistance。 He soon joined them again； successful；
of course； Lady Dalrymple would be most happy to take them
home； and would call for them in a few minutes。
Her ladyship’s carriage was a barouche； and did not hold more
than four with any comfort。 Miss Carteret was with her mother；
consequently it was not reasonable to expect accommodation for
all the three Camden…place ladies。 There could be no doubt as to
Miss Elliot。 Whoever suffered inconvenience； she must suffer
none； but it occupied a little time to settle the point of civility
between the other two。 The rain was a mere trifle； and Anne was
most sincere in preferring a walk with Mr。 Elliot。 But the rain was
also a mere trifle to Mrs。 Clay； she would hardly allow it even to
drop at all； and her boots were so thick！ much thicker than Miss
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Anne’s； and； in short； her civility rendered her quite as anxious to
be left to walk with Mr。 Elliot as Anne could be； and it was
discussed between them with a generosity so polite and so
determined； that the others were obliged to settle it for them； Miss
Elliot maintaining that Mrs。 Clay had a little cold already； and Mr。
Elliot deciding on appeal； that his cousin Anne’s boots were rather
the thickest。
It was fixed accordingly； that Mrs。 Clay should be of the party in
the carriage； and they had just reached this point； when Anne； as
she sat near the window； descried； most decidedly and distinctly；
Captain Wentworth walking down the street。
Her start was perceptible only to herself； but she instantly felt
that she was the greatest simpleton in the world； the most
unaccountable and absurd！ For a few minutes she saw nothing
before her。 It was all confusion。 She was lost； and when she had
scolded back her senses； she found the others still waiting for the
carriage； and Mr。 Elliot （always obliging） just setting off for Union…
street on a commission of Mrs。 Clay’s。
She n