persuasion(劝导)-第12节
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good understanding and agreement together； that good…humoured
mutual affection； of which she had known so little herself with
either of her sisters。
They were received with great cordiality。 Nothing seemed
amiss on the side of the Great House family； which was generally；
as Anne very well knew； the least to blame。 The half hour was
chatted away pleasantly enough； and she was not at all surprised
at the end of it； to have their walking party joined by both the Miss
Musgroves； at Mary’s particular invitation。
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CHAPTER VI
nne had not wanted this visit to Uppercross； to learn that
Aa removal from one set of people to another； though at a
distance of only three miles； will often include a total
change of conversation； opinion； and idea。 She had never been
staying there before； without being struck by it； or without wishing
that other Elliots could have her advantage in seeing how
unknown； or unconsidered there； were the affairs which at
Kellynch Hall were treated as of such general publicity and
pervading interest； yet； with all this experience； she believed she
must now submit to feel that another lesson； in the art of knowing
our own nothingness beyond our own circle； was become
necessary for her；—for certainly； coming as she did； with a heart
full of the subject which had been completely occupying both
houses in Kellynch for many weeks； she had expected rather more
curiosity and sympathy than she found in the separate but very
similar remark of Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove—“So； Miss Anne； Sir
Walter and your sister are gone； and what part of Bath do you
think they will settle in？” and this； without much waiting for an
answer；—or in the young ladies’ addition of； “I hope we shall be in
Bath in the winter； but remember； papa； if we do go； we must be
in a good situation： none of your Queen…squares for us！” or in the
anxious supplement from Mary； of “Upon my word； I shall be
pretty well off； when you are all gone away to be happy at Bath！”
She could only resolve to avoid such self…delusion in future； and
think with heightened gratitude of the extraordinary blessing of
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having one such truly sympathising friend as Lady Russell。
The Mr。 Musgroves had their own game to guard； and to
destroy； their own horses； dogs； and newspapers to engage them；
and the females were fully occupied in all the other common
subjects of housekeeping； neighbours； dress； dancing； and music。
She acknowledged it to be very fitting； that every little social
commonwealth should dictate its own matters of discourse； and
hoped； ere long； to become a not unworthy member of the one she
was now transplanted into。—With the prospect of spending at
least two months at Uppercross； it was highly incumbent on her to
clothe her imagination； her memory； and all her ideas in as much
of Uppercross as possible。
She had no dread of these two months。 Mary was not so
repulsive and unsisterly as Elizabeth； nor so inaccessible to all
influence of hers； neither was there anything among the other
component parts of the cottage inimical to comfort。—She was
always on friendly terms with her brother…in…law； and in the
children； who loved her nearly as well； and respected her a great
deal more than their mother； she had an object of interest；
amusement； and wholesome exertion。
Charles Musgrove was civil and agreeable； in sense and temper
he was undoubtedly superior to his wife； but not of powers； or
conversation； or grace； to make the past； as they were connected
together； at all a dangerous contemplation； though； at the same
time； Anne could believe； with Lady Russell； that a more equal
match might have greatly improved him； and that a woman of real
understanding might have given more consequence to his
character； and more usefulness； rationality； and elegance to his
habits and pursuits。 As it was； he did nothing with much zeal； but
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sport； and his time was otherwise trifled away； without benefit
from books or anything else。 He had very good spirits； which never
seemed much affected by his wife’s occasional lowness； bore with
her unreasonableness sometimes to Anne’s admiration； and upon
the whole； though there was very often a little disagreement （in
which she had sometimes more share than she wished； being
appealed to by both parties）； they might pass for a happy couple。
They were always perfectly agreed in the want of more money；
and a strong inclination for a handsome present from his father；
but here； as on most topics； he had the superiority； for while Mary
thought it a great shame that such a present was not made； he
always contended for his father’s having many other uses for his
money； and a right to spend it as he liked。
As to the management of their children； his theory was much
better than his wife’s； and his practice not so bad。—“I could
manage them very well； if it were not for Mary’s interference；”—
was what Anne often heard him say； and had a good deal of faith
in； but when listening in turn to Mary’s reproach of “Charles
spoils the children so that I cannot get them into any order；”—she
never had the smallest temptation to say； “Very true。”
One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence there
was her being treated with too much confidence by all parties； and
being too much in the secret of the complaints of each house。
Known to have some influence with her sister； she was continually
requested； or at least receiving hints to exert it； beyond what was
practicable。 “I wish you could persuade Mary not to be always
fancying herself ill；” was Charles’s language； and； in an unhappy
mood； thus spoke Mary—“I do believe if Charles were to see me
dying； he would not think there was anything the matter with me。
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I am sure； Anne； if you would； you might persuade him that I
really am very ill—a great deal worse than I ever own。”
Mary’s declaration was； “I hate sending the children to the
Great House； though their grandmamma is always wanting to see
them； for she humours and indulges them to such a degree； and
gives them so much trash and sweet things； that they are sure to
come back sick and cross for the rest of the day。”—And Mrs。
Musgrove took the first opportunity of being alone with Anne； to
say； “Oh！ Miss Anne； I cannot help wishing Mrs。 Charles had a
little of your method with those children。 They are quite different
creatures with you！ But to be sure； in general they are so spoilt！ It
is a pity you cannot put your sister in the way of managing them。
They are as fine healthy children as ever were seen； poor little
dears； without partiality； but Mrs。 Charles knows no more how
they should be treated！—Bless me； how troublesome they are
sometimes！—I assure you； Miss Anne； it prevents my wishing to
see them at our house so often as I otherwise should。 I
