persuasion(劝导)-第30节
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while you were at dinner； and going on now for Crewkherne； in his
way to Bath and London。”
“Elliot！” Many had looked on each other； and many had
repeated the name； before all this had been got through； even by
the smart rapidity of a waiter。
“Bless me！” cried Mary； “it must be our cousin；—it must be our
Mr。 Elliot； it must； indeed！—Charles； Anne； must not it？ In
mourning； you see； just as our Mr。 Elliot must be。 How very
extraordinary！ In the very same inn with us！ Anne； must not it be
our Mr。 Elliot； my father’s next heir？ Pray sir；” （turning to the
waiter）； “did not you hear； did not his servant say whether he
belonged to the Kellynch family？”
“No； ma’am； he did not mention no particular family； but he
said his master was a very rich gentleman； and would be a
baronight some day。”
“There！ you see！” cried Mary in an ecstasy； “just as I said！ Heir
to Sir Walter Elliot！—I was sure that would come out； if it was so。
Depend upon it； that is a circumstance which his servants take
care to publish； wherever he goes。 But； Anne； only conceive how
extraordinary！ I wish I had looked at him more。 I wish we had
been aware in time； who it was； that he might have been
introduced to us。 What a pity that we should not have been
introduced to each other！—Do you think he had the Elliot
countenance？ I hardly looked at him； I was looking at the horses；
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but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance； I wonder
the arms did not strike me！ Oh！—the great…coat was hanging over
the panel； and hid the arms； so it did； otherwise； I am sure； I
should have observed them； and the livery too； if the servant had
not been in mourning； one should have known him by the livery。”
“Putting all these very extraordinary circumstances together；”
said Captain Wentworth； “we must consider it to be the
arrangement of Providence； that you should not be introduced to
your cousin。”
When she could command Mary’s attention； Anne quietly tried
to convince her that their father and Mr。 Elliot had not； for many
years； been on such terms as to make the power of attempting an
introduction at all desirable。
At the same time； however； it was a secret gratification to
herself to have seen her cousin； and to know that the future owner
of Kellynch was undoubtedly a gentleman； and had an air of good
sense。 She would not； upon any account； mention her having met
with him the second time； luckily Mary did not much attend to
their having passed close by him in their earlier walk； but she
would have felt quite ill…used by Anne’s having actually run
against him in the passage； and received his very polite excuses；
while she had never been near him at all； no； that cousinly little
interview must remain a perfect secret。
“Of course；” said Mary； “you will mention our seeing Mr。 Elliot；
the next time you write to Bath。 I think my father certainly ought
to hear of it； do mention all about him。”
Anne avoided a direct reply； but it was just the circumstance
which she considered as not merely unnecessary to be
communicated； but as what ought to be suppressed。 The offence
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which had been given her father； many years back； she knew；
Elizabeth’s particular share in it she suspected； and that Mr。
Elliot’s idea always produced irritation in both was beyond a
doubt。 Mary never wrote to Bath herself； all the toil of keeping up
a slow and unsatisfactory correspondence with Elizabeth fell on
Anne。
Breakfast had not been long over； when they were joined by
Captain and Mrs。 Harville and Captain Benwick； with whom they
had appointed to take their last walk about Lyme。 They ought to
be setting off for Uppercross by one； and in the meanwhile were to
be all together； and out of doors as long as they could。
Anne found Captain Benwick getting near her； as soon as they
were all fairly in the street。 Their conversation the preceding
evening did not disincline him to seek her again； and they walked
together some time； talking as before of Mr。 Scott and Lord Byron；
and still as unable as before； and as unable as any other two
readers； to think exactly alike of the merits of either； till something
occasioned an almost general change amongst their party； and
instead of Captain Benwick； she had Captain Harville by her side。
“Miss Elliot；” said he； speaking rather low； “you have done a
good deed in making that poor fellow talk so much。 I wish he could
have such company oftener。 It is bad for him； I know； to be shut up
as he is； but what can we do？ We cannot part。”
“No；” said Anne； “that I can easily believe to be impossible； but
in time； perhaps—we know what time does in every case of
affliction； and you must remember； Captain Harville； that your
friend may yet be called a young mourner—Only last summer； I
understand。”
“Ay； true enough；” （with a deep sigh） “only June。”
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“And not known to him； perhaps； so soon。”
“Not till the first week of August； when he came home from the
Cape；—just made into the Grappler。 I was at Plymouth； dreading
to hear of him； he sent in letters； but the Grappler was under
orders for Portsmouth。 There the news must follow him； but who
was to tell it？ not I。 I would as soon have been run up to the yard…
arm。 Nobody could do it； but that good fellow （pointing to Captain
Wentworth）。 The Laconia had come into Plymouth the week
before； no danger of her being sent to sea again。 He stood his
chance for the rest；—wrote up for leave of absence； but without
waiting the return； travelled night and day till he got to
Portsmouth； rowed off to the Grappler that instant； and never left
the poor fellow for a week； that’s what he did； and nobody else
could have saved poor James。 You may think； Miss Elliot； whether
he is dear to us！”
Anne did think on the question with perfect decision； and said
as much in reply as her own feeling could accomplish； or as his
seemed able to bear； for he was too much affected to renew the
subject； and when he spoke again； it was of something totally
different。
Mrs。 Harville’s giving it as her opinion that her husband would
have quite walking enough by the time he reached home；
determined the direction of all the party in what was to be their
last walk； they would accompany them to their door； and then
return and set off themselves。 By all their calculations there was
just time for this； but as they drew near the Cobb； there was such a
general wish to walk along it once more； all were so inclined； and
Louisa soon grew so determined； that the difference of a quarter of
an hour； it was found； would be no difference at all； so with all the
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kind leave…taking； and all the kind interchange of invitations and
promises which may be imagined； they parted from Captain and
Mrs。 Harville at their own door； and still accompanied by Captain
Benwick； who seemed to cling to them to the last； procee
