按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
honourably and kindly； only anxious with true parental hearts to
promote their daughter’s comfort。 All this is much； very much in
favour of their happiness； more than perhaps—”
He stopped。 A sudden recollection seemed to occur； and to give
him some taste of that emotion which was reddening Anne’s
cheeks and fixing her eyes on the ground。—After clearing his
throat； however； he proceeded thus；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 208…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 208
“I confess that I do think there is a disparity； too great a
disparity； and in a point no less essential than mind。—I regard
Louisa Musgrove as a very amiable； sweet…tempered girl； and not
deficient in understanding； but Benwick is something more。 He is
a clever man； a reading man—and I confess； that I do consider his
attaching himself to her with some surprise。 Had it been the effect
of gratitude； had he learnt to love her； because he believed her to
be preferring him； it would have been another thing。 But I have no
reason to suppose it so。 It seems； on the contrary； to have been a
perfectly spontaneous； untaught feeling on his side； and this
surprises me。 A man like him； in his situation！ with a heart
pierced； wounded； almost broken！ Fanny Harville was a very
superior creature； and his attachment to her was indeed
attachment。 A man does not recover from such a devotion of the
heart to such a woman！—He ought not—he does not。”
Either from the consciousness； however； that his friend had
recovered； or from other consciousness； he went no farther； and
Anne who； in spite of the agitated voice in which the latter part
had been uttered； and in spite of all the various noises of the room；
the almost ceaseless slam of the door； and ceaseless buzz of
persons walking through； had distinguished every word； was
struck； gratified； confused； and beginning to breathe very quick；
and feel an hundred things in a moment。 It was impossible for her
to enter on such a subject； and yet； after a pause； feeling the
necessity of speaking； and having not the smallest wish for a total
change； she only deviated so far as to say—
“You were a good while at Lyme； I think？”
“About a fortnight。 I could not leave it till Louisa’s doing well
was quite ascertained。 I had been too deeply concerned in the
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 209…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 209
mischief to be soon at peace。 It had been my doing—solely mine。
She would not have been obstinate if I had not been weak。 The
country round Lyme is very fine。 I walked and rode a great deal；
and the more I saw； the more I found to admire。”
“I should very much like to see Lyme again；” said Anne。
“Indeed！ I should not have supposed that you could have found
anything in Lyme to inspire such a feeling。 The horror and
distress you were involved in—the stretch of mind； the wear of
spirits！—I should have thought your last impressions of Lyme
must have been strong disgust。”
“The last hours were certainly very painful；” replied Anne： “but
when pain is over； the remembrance of it often becomes a
pleasure。 One does not love a place the less for having suffered in
it； unless it has been all suffering； nothing but suffering—which
was by no means the case at Lyme。 We were only in anxiety and
distress during the last two hours； and previously there had been a
great deal of enjoyment。 So much novelty and beauty！ I have
travelled so little； that every fresh place would be interesting to
me—but there is real beauty at Lyme； and in short” （with a faint
blush at some recollections）； “altogether my impressions of the
place are very agreeable。”
As she ceased； the entrance door opened again； and the very
party appeared for whom they were waiting。 “Lady Dalrymple；
Lady Dalrymple；” was the rejoicing sound； and with all the
eagerness compatible with anxious elegance； Sir Walter and his
two ladies stepped forward to meet her。 Lady Dalrymple and Miss
Carteret； escorted by Mr。 Elliot and Colonel Wallis； who had
happened to arrive nearly at the same instant； advanced into the
room。 The others joined them； and it was a group in which Anne
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 210…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 210
found herself also necessarily included。 She was divided from
Captain Wentworth。 Their interesting； almost too interesting
conversation must be broken up for a time； but slight was the
penance compared with the happiness which brought it on！ She
had learnt； in the last ten minutes； more of his feelings towards
Louisa； more of all his feelings than she dared to think of！ and she
gave herself up to the demands of the party； to the needful
civilities of the moment； with exquisite； though agitated
sensations。 She was in good humour with all。 She had received
ideas which disposed her to be courteous and kind to all； and to
pity every one； as being less happy than herself。
The delightful emotions were a little subdued； when on
stepping back from the group； to be joined again by Captain
Wentworth； she saw that he was gone。 She was just in time to see
him turn into the Concert Room。 He was gone—he had
disappeared； she felt a moment’s regret。 But “they should meet
again。 He would look for her—he would find her out before the
evening were over—and at present； perhaps； it was as well to be
asunder。 She was in need of a little interval for recollection。”
Upon Lady Russell’s appearance soon afterwards； the whole
party was collected； and all that remained was to marshal
themselves； and proceed into the Concert Room； and be of all the
consequence in their power； draw as many eyes； excite as many
whispers； and disturb as many people as they could。
Very； very happy were both Elizabeth and Anne Elliot as they
walked in。 Elizabeth arm in arm with Miss Carteret； and looking
on the broad back of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple before
her； had nothing to wish for which did not seem within her reach；
and Anne—but it would be an insult to the nature of Anne’s
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 211…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 211
felicity； to draw any comparison between it and her sister’s； the
origin of one all selfish vanity； of the other all generous
attachment。
Anne saw nothing； thought nothing of the brilliancy of the
room。 Her happiness was from within。 Her eyes were bright and
her cheeks glowed；—but she knew nothing about it。 She was
thinking only of the last half hour； and as they passed to their
seats； her mind took a hasty range over it。 His choice of subjects；
his expressions； and still more his manner and look； had been
such as she could see in only one light。 His opinion of Louisa
Musgrove’s inferiority； an opinion which he had seemed solicitous
to give； his wonder at Captain Benwick； his feelings as to a first；
strong attachment；—sentences begun which he could not finish—
his half averted eyes and more than half expressive glance；—all；
all declared that he had a