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Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 248
very agreeable operation； and it streightens him as to many things。
However； I do not mean to say they have not a right to it。 It is very
fit they should have daughters’ shares； and I am sure he has
always been a very kind； liberal father to me。 Mary does not above
half like Henrietta’s match。 She never did； you know。 But she does
not do him justice； nor think enough about Winthrop。 I cannot
make her attend to the value of the property。 It is a very fair
match； as times go； and I have liked Charles Hayter all my life； and
I shall not leave off now。”
“Such excellent parents as Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove；” exclaimed
Anne； “should be happy in their children’s marriages。 They do
everything to confer happiness； I am sure。 What a blessing to
young people to be in such hands！ Your father and mother seem
so totally free from all those ambitious feelings which have led to
so much misconduct and misery； both in young and old。 I hope
you think Louisa perfectly recovered now？”
He answered rather hesitatingly； “Yes； I believe I do—very
much recovered； but she is altered； there is no running or jumping
about； no laughing or dancing； it is quite different。 If one happens
only to shut the door a little hard； she starts and wriggles like a
young dab chick in the water； and Benwick sits at her elbow；
reading verses； or whispering to her； all day long。”
Anne could not help laughing。 “That cannot be much to your
taste； I know；” said she； “but I do believe him to be an excellent
young man。”
“To be sure he is。 Nobody doubts it； and I hope you do not
think I am so illiberal as to want every man to have the same
objects and pleasures as myself。 I have a great value for Benwick；
and when one can but get him to talk； he has plenty to say。 His
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 249
reading has done him no harm； for he has fought as well as read。
He is a brave fellow。 I got more acquainted with him last Monday
than ever I did before。 We had a famous set…to at rat…hunting all
the morning in my father’s great barns； and he played his part so
well that I have liked him the better ever since。”
Here they were interrupted by the absolute necessity of
Charles’s following the others to admire mirrors and china； but
Anne had heard enough to understand the present state of
Uppercross； and rejoice in its happiness； and though she sighed as
she rejoiced； her sigh had none of the ill…will of envy in it。 She
would certainly have risen to their blessings if she could； but she
did not want to lessen theirs。
The visit passed off altogether in high good humour。 Mary was
in excellent spirits； enjoying the gaiety and the change； and so well
satisfied with the journey in her mother…in…law’s carriage with four
horses； and with her own complete independence of Camden…
place； that she was exactly in a temper to admire everything as she
ought； and enter most readily into all the superiorities of the
house； as they were detailed to her。 She had no demands on her
father or sister； and her consequence was just enough increased
by their handsome drawing…rooms。
Elizabeth was； for a short time； suffering a good deal。 She felt
that Mrs。 Musgrove and all her party ought to be asked to dine
with them； but she could not bear to have the difference of style；
the reduction of servants； which a dinner must betray； witnessed
by those who had been always so inferior to the Elliots of
Kellynch。 It was a struggle between propriety and vanity； but
vanity got the better； and then Elizabeth was happy again。 These
were her internal persuasions：—“Old fashioned notions—country
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hospitality—we do not profess to give dinners—few people in Bath
do—Lady Alicia never does； did not even ask her own sister’s
family； though they were here a month： and I dare say it would be
very inconvenient to Mrs。 Musgrove—put her quite out of her way。
I am sure she would rather not come—she cannot feel easy with
us。 I will ask them all for an evening； that will be much better—
that will be a novelty and a treat。 They have not seen two such
drawing rooms before。 They will be delighted to come to…morrow
evening。 It shall be a regular party—small； but most elegant。” And
this satisfied Elizabeth： and when the invitation was given to the
two present； and promised for the absent； Mary was as completely
satisfied。 She was particularly asked to meet Mr。 Elliot； and be
introduced to Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret； who were
fortunately already engaged to come； and she could not have
received a more gratifying attention。 Miss Elliot was to have the
honour of calling on Mrs。 Musgrove in the course of the morning；
and Anne walked off with Charles and Mary； to go and see her and
Henrietta directly。
Her plan of sitting with Lady Russell must give way for the
present。 They all three called in Rivers…street for a couple of
minutes； but Anne convinced herself that a day’s delay of the
intended communication could be of no consequence； and
hastened forward to the White Hart； to see again the friends and
companions of the last autumn； with an eagerness of good will
which many associations contributed to form。
They found Mrs。 Musgrove and her daughter within； and by
themselves； and Anne had the kindest welcome from each。
Henrietta was exactly in that state of recently…improved views； of
fresh…formed happiness； which made her full of regard and
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 251
interest for everybody she had ever liked before at all； and Mrs。
Musgrove’s real affection had been won by her usefulness when
they were in distress。 It was a heartiness； and a warmth； and a
sincerity which Anne delighted in the more； from the sad want of
such blessings at home。 She was entreated to give them as much
of her time as possible； invited for every day and all day long； or
rather claimed as part of the family； and； in return； she naturally
fell into all her wonted ways of attention and assistance； and on
Charles’s leaving them together； was listening to Mrs。 Musgrove’s
history of Louisa； and to Henrietta’s of herself； giving opinions on
business； and recommendations to shops； with intervals of every
help which Mary required； from altering her ribbon to settling her
accounts； from finding her keys； and assorting her trinkets； to
trying to convince her that she was not ill used by any body； which
Mary； well amused as she generally was； in her station at a
window overlooking the entrance to the Pump Room； could not
but have her moments of imagining。
A morning of thorough confusion was to be expected。 A large
party in an hotel ensured a quick…changing； unsettled scene。 One
five minutes brought a note； the next a parcel； and Anne had not
been there half an hour； when their dining…room； spacious as it
was； seemed more than half filled： a party of steady old friends
were seated around Mrs。 Musgrove； and Charles came back with
Captains Harville and Wentworth。 The appearance