persuasion(劝导)-第2节
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been anticipated on that head by their acquaintance。—Thirteen
years had passed away since Lady Elliot’s death； and they were
still near neighbours and intimate friends； and one remained a
widower； the other a widow。
That Lady Russell； of steady age and character； and extremely
well provided for； should have no thought of a second marriage；
needs no apology to the public； which is rather apt to be
unreasonably discontented when a woman does marry again； than
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when she does not； but Sir Walter’s continuing in singleness
requires explanation。—Be it known then； that Sir Walter； like a
good father； （having met with one or two private disappointments
in very unreasonable applications） prided himself on remaining
single for his dear daughters’ sake。 For one daughter； his eldest；
he would really have given up any thing； which he had not been
very much tempted to do。 Elizabeth had succeeded； at sixteen； to
all that was possible； of her mother’s rights and consequence； and
being very handsome； and very like himself； her influence had
always been great； and they had gone on together most happily。
His two other children were of very inferior value。 Mary had
acquired a little artificial importance； by becoming Mrs。 Charles
Musgrove； but Anne； with an elegance of mind and sweetness of
character； which must have placed her high with any people of
real understanding； was nobody with either father or sister； her
word had no weight； her convenience was always to give way—
she was only Anne。
To Lady Russell； indeed； she was a most dear and highly valued
god…daughter； favourite； and friend。 Lady Russell loved them all；
but it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive
again。
A few years before； Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl； but
her bloom had vanished early； and as even in its height； her father
had found little to admire in her； （so totally different were her
delicate features and mild dark eyes from his own）； there could be
nothing in them； now that she was faded and thin； to excite his
esteem。 He had never indulged much hope； he had now none； of
ever reading her name in any other page of his favourite work。 All
equality of alliance must rest with Elizabeth； for Mary had merely
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connected herself with an old country family of respectability and
large fortune； and had therefore given all the honour and received
none： Elizabeth would； one day or other； marry suitably。
It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty…
nine than she was ten years before； and； generally speaking； if
there has been neither ill health nor anxiety； it is a time of life at
which scarcely any charm is lost。 It was so with Elizabeth； still the
same handsome Miss Elliot that she had begun to be thirteen
years ago； and Sir Walter might be excused； therefore； in
forgetting her age； or； at least； be deemed only half a fool； for
thinking himself and Elizabeth as blooming as ever； amidst the
wreck of the good looks of everybody else； for he could plainly see
how old all the rest of his family and acquaintance were growing。
Anne haggard； Mary coarse； every face in the neighbourhood
worsting； and the rapid increase of the crow’s foot about Lady
Russell’s temples had long been a distress to him。
Elizabeth did not quite equal her father in personal
contentment。 Thirteen years had seen her mistress of Kellynch
Hall； presiding and directing with a self…possession and decision
which could never have given the idea of her being younger than
she was。 For thirteen years had she been doing the honours； and
laying down the domestic law at home； and leading the way to the
chaise and four； and walking immediately after Lady Russell out
of all the drawing…rooms and dining…rooms in the country。
Thirteen winters’ revolving frosts had seen her opening every ball
of credit which a scanty neighbourhood afforded； and thirteen
springs shewn their blossoms； as she travelled up to London with
her father； for a few weeks’ annual enjoyment of the great world。
She had the remembrance of all this； she had the consciousness of
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being nine…and…twenty to give her some regrets and some
apprehensions； she was fully satisfied of being still quite as
handsome as ever； but she felt her approach to the years of
danger； and would have rejoiced to be certain of being properly
solicited by baronet…blood within the next twelvemonth or two。
Then might she again take up the book of books with as much
enjoyment as in her early youth； but now she liked it not。 Always
to be presented with the date of her own birth and see no
marriage follow but that of a youngest sister； made the book an
evil； and more than once； when her father had left it open on the
table near her； had she closed it； with averted eyes； and pushed it
away。
She had had a disappointment； moreover； which that book； and
especially the history of her own family； must ever present the
remembrance of。 The heir presumptive； the very William Walter
Elliot； Esq。； whose rights had been so generously supported by her
father； had disappointed her。
She had； while a very young girl； as soon as she had known him
to be； in the event of her having no brother； the future baronet；
meant to marry him； and her father had always meant that she
should。 He had not been known to them as a boy； but soon after
Lady Elliot’s death； Sir Walter had sought the acquaintance； and
though his overtures had not been met with any warmth； he had
persevered in seeking it； making allowance for the modest
drawing…back of youth； and； in one of their spring excursions to
London； when Elizabeth was in her first bloom； Mr。 Elliot had
been forced into the introduction。
He was at that time a very young man； just engaged in the study
of the law； and Elizabeth found him extremely agreeable； and
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every plan in his favour was confirmed。 He was invited to
Kellynch Hall； he was talked of and expected all the rest of the
year； but he never came。 The following spring he was seen again
in town； found equally agreeable； again encouraged； invited； and
expected； and again he did not come； and the next tidings were
that he was married。 Instead of pushing his fortune in the line
marked out for the heir of the house of Elliot； he had purchased
independence by uniting himself to a rich woman of inferior birth。
Sir Walter has resented it。 As the head of the house； he felt that
he ought to have been consulted； especially after taking the young
man so publicly by the hand： “For they must have been seen
together；” he observed； “once at Tattersal’s； and twice in the lobby
of the House of Commons。” His disapprobation was expressed； but
apparently very little regarded。 Mr。 Elliot had attempted no
apology； and shewn himself as unsolicitous of being longer noticed
by the family； as Sir W
