persuasion(劝导)-第11节
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have been all this morning—very unfit to be left alone； I am sure。
Suppose I were to be seized of a sudden in some dreadful way； and
not able to ring the bell！ So； Lady Russell would not get out。 I do
not think she has been in this house three times this summer。”
Anne said what was proper； and enquired after her husband。
“Oh！ Charles is out shooting。 I have not seen him since seven
o’clock。 He would go； though I told him how ill I was。 He said he
should not stay out long； but he has never come back； and now it is
almost one。 I assure you； I have not seen a soul this whole long
morning。”
“You have had your little boys with you？”
“Yes； as long as I could bear their noise； but they are so
unmanageable that they do me more harm than good。 Little
Charles does not mind a word I say； and Walter is growing quite as
bad。”
“Well； you will soon be better now；” replied Anne； cheerfully。
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“You know I always cure you when I come。 How are your
neighbours at the Great House？”
“I can give you no account of them。 I have not seen one of them
to…day； except Mr。 Musgrove； who just stopped and spoke through
the window； but without getting off his horse； and though I told
him how ill I was； not one of them have been near me。 It did not
happen to suit the Miss Musgroves； I suppose； and they never put
themselves out of their way。”
“You will see them yet； perhaps； before the morning is gone。 It
is early。”
“I never want them； I assure you。 They talk and laugh a great
deal too much for me。 Oh！ Anne； I am so very unwell！ It was quite
unkind of you not to come on Thursday。”
“My dear Mary； recollect what a comfortable account you sent
me of yourself！ You wrote in the cheerfullest manner； and said you
were perfectly well； and in no hurry for me； and that being the
case； you must be aware that my wish would be to remain with
Lady Russell to the last： and besides what I felt on her account； I
have really been so busy； have had so much to do； that I could not
very conveniently have left Kellynch sooner。”
“Dear me！ what can you possibly have to do？”
“A great many things； I assure you。 More than I can recollect in
a moment： but I can tell you some。 I have been making a duplicate
of the catalogue of my father’s books and pictures。 I have been
several times in the garden with Mackenzie； trying to understand；
and make him understand； which of Elizabeth’s plants are for
Lady Russell。 I have had all my own little concerns to arrange—
books and music to divide； and all my trunks to repack； from not
having understood in time what was intended as to the waggons。
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 46
And one thing I have had to do； Mary； of a more trying nature；
going to almost every house in the parish； as a sort of take…leave。 I
was told that they wished it。 But all these things took up a great
deal of time。”
“Oh！ well！”—and after a moment’s pause； “but you have never
asked me one word about our dinner at the Pooles yesterday。”
“Did you go then？ I have made no enquiries； because I
concluded you must have been obliged to give up the party。”
“Oh yes！ I went。 I was very well yesterday； nothing at all the
matter with me till this morning。 It would have been strange if I
had not gone。”
“I am very glad you were well enough； and I hope you had a
pleasant party。”
“Nothing remarkable。 One always knows beforehand what the
dinner will be； and who will be there； and it is so very
uncomfortable not having a carriage of one’s own。 Mr。 and Mrs。
Musgrove took me； and we were so crowded！ They are both so
very large； and take up so much room！ And Mr。 Musgrove always
sits forward。 So； there was I； crowded into the back seat with
Henrietta and Louise。 And I think it very likely that my illness to…
day may be owing to it。”
A little further perseverance in patience and forced
cheerfulness on Anne’s side produced nearly a cure on Mary’s。
She could soon sit upright on the sofa； and began to hope she
might be able to leave it by dinner…time。 Then； forgetting to think
of it； she was at the other end of the room； beautifying a nosegay；
then； she ate her cold meat； and then she was well enough to
propose a little walk。
“Where shall we go？” said she； when they were ready。 “I
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suppose you will not like to call at the Great House before they
have been to see you？”
“I have not the smallest objection on that account；” replied
Anne。 “I should never think of standing on such ceremony with
people I know so well as Mrs。 and the Miss Musgroves。”
“Oh！ but they ought to call upon you as soon as possible。 They
ought to feel what is due to you as my sister。 However； we may as
well go and sit with them a little while； and when we have that
over； we can enjoy our walk。”
Anne had always thought such a style of intercourse highly
imprudent； but she had ceased to endeavour to check it； from
believing that； though there were on each side continual subjects
of offence； neither family could now do without it。 To the Great
House accordingly they went； to sit the full half hour in the old…
fashioned square parlour； with a small carpet and shining floor； to
which the present daughters of the house were gradually giving
the proper air of confusion by a grand piano…forte and a harp；
flower…stands and little tables placed in every direction。 Oh！ could
the originals of the portraits against the wainscot； could the
gentlemen in brown velvet and the ladies in blue satin have seen
what was going on； have been conscious of such an overthrow of
all order and neatness！ The portraits themselves seemed to be
staring in astonishment。
The Musgroves； like their houses； were in a state of alteration；
perhaps of improvement。 The father and mother were in the old
English style； and the young people in the new。 Mr。 and Mrs。
Musgrove were a very good sort of people； friendly and hospitable；
not much educated； and not at all elegant。 Their children had
more modern minds and manners。 There was a numerous family；
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but the only two grown up； excepting Charles； were Henrietta and
Louisa； young ladies of nineteen and twenty； who had brought
from school at Exeter all the usual stock of accomplishments； and
were now like thousands of other young ladies； living to be
fashionable； happy； and merry。 Their dress had every advantage；
their faces were rather pretty； their spirits extremely good； their
manner unembarrassed and pleasant； they were of consequence
at home； and favourites abroad。 Anne always contemplated them
as some of the happiest creatures of her acquaintance； but still；
saved as we all are； by some comfortable feeling of superiority
from wishing for the possibility of exchange； she would not have
given up her own more elegant and cultivated mind for all their
enjoyments； and envied them nothing but that seemingly perfect
good understanding and agreement together； that good…humoured
