persuasion(劝导)-第40节
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theirs； had heard voices—mirth continually； thought they must be
a most delightful set of people—longed to be with them； but
certainly without the smallest suspicion of his possessing the
shadow of a right to introduce himself。 If he had but asked who
the party were！ The name of Musgrove would have told him
enough。 “Well； it would serve to cure him of an absurd practice of
never asking a question at an inn； which he had adopted； when
quite a young man； on the principal of its being very ungenteel to
be curious。
“The notions of a young man of one or two and twenty；” said
he； “as to what is necessary in manners to make him quite the
thing； are more absurd； I believe； than those of any other set of
beings in the world。 The folly of the means they often employ is
only to be equalled by the folly of what they have in view。”
But he must not be addressing his reflections to Anne alone； he
knew it； he was soon diffused again among the others； and it was
only at intervals that he could return to Lyme。
His enquiries； however； produced at length an account of the
scene she had been engaged in there； soon after his leaving the
place。 Having alluded to “an accident；” he must hear the whole。
When he questioned； Sir Walter and Elizabeth began to question
also； but the difference in their manner of doing it could not be
unfelt。 She could only compare Mr。 Elliot to Lady Russell； in the
wish of really comprehending what had passed； and in the degree
of concern for what she must have suffered in witnessing it。
He staid an hour with them。 The elegant little clock on the
mantel…piece had struck “eleven with its silver sounds；” and the
watchman was beginning to be heard at a distance telling the
same tale； before Mr。 Elliot or any of them seemed to feel that he
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had been there long。
Anne could not have supposed it possible that her first evening
in Camden…place could have passed so well！
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CHAPTER IV
here was one point which Anne； on returning to her
family； would have been more thankful to ascertain even
T
than Mr。 Elliot’s being in love with Elizabeth； which was；
her father’s not being in love with Mrs。 Clay； and she was very far
from easy about it； when she had been at home a few hours。 On
going down to breakfast the next morning； she found there had
just been a decent pretence on the lady’s side of meaning to leave
them。 She could imagine Mrs。 Clay to have said； that “now Miss
Anne was come； she could not suppose herself at all wanted；” for
Elizabeth was replying in a sort of whisper； “That must not be any
reason； indeed。 I assure you I feel it none。 She is nothing to me；
compared with you；” and she was in full time to hear her father
say； “My dear madam； this must not be。 As yet； you have seen
nothing of Bath。 You have been here only to be useful。 You must
not run away from us now。 You must stay to be acquainted with
Mrs。 Wallis； the beautiful Mrs。 Wallis。 To your fine mind； I well
know the sight of beauty is a real gratification。”
He spoke and looked so much in earnest； that Anne was not
surprised to see Mrs。 Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and
herself。 Her countenance； perhaps； might express some
watchfulness； but the praise of the fine mind did not appear to
excite a thought in her sister。 The lady could not but yield to such
joint entreaties； and promise to stay。
In the course of the same morning； Anne and her father
chancing to be alone together； he began to compliment her on her
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improved looks； he thought her “less thin in her person； in her
cheeks； her skin； her complexion； greatly improved—clearer；
fresher。 Had she been using any thing in particular？” “No；
nothing。” “Merely Gowland；” he supposed。 “No； nothing at all。”
“Ha！ he was surprised at that；” and added； “certainly you cannot
do better than to continue as you are； you cannot be better than
well； or I should recommend Gowland； the constant use of
Gowland； during the spring months。 Mrs。 Clay has been using it at
my recommendation； and you see what it has done for her。 You
see how it has carried away her freckles。”
If Elizabeth could but have heard this！ Such personal praise
might have struck her； especially as it did not appear to Anne that
the freckles were at all lessened。 But everything must take its
chance。 The evil of a marriage would be much diminished； if
Elizabeth were also to marry。 As for herself； she might always
command a home with Lady Russell。
Lady Russell’s composed mind and polite manners were put to
some trial on this point； in her intercourse in Camden…place。 The
sight of Mrs。 Clay in such favour； and of Anne so overlooked； was a
perpetual provocation to her there； and vexed her as much when
she was away； as a person in Bath who drinks the water； gets all
the new publications； and has a very large acquaintance； has time
to be vexed。
As Mr。 Elliot became known to her； she grew more charitable；
or more indifferent； towards the others。 His manners were an
immediate recommendation； and on conversing with him she
found the solid so fully supporting the superficial； that she was at
first； as she told Anne； almost ready to exclaim； “Can this be Mr。
Elliot？” and could not seriously picture to herself a more
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agreeable or estimable man。 Everything united in him； good
understanding； correct opinions； knowledge of the world； and a
warm heart。 He had strong feelings of family attachment and
family honour； without pride or weakness； he lived with the
liberality of a man of fortune； without display； he judged for
himself in everything essential； without defying public opinion in
any point of worldly decorum。 He was steady； observant；
moderate； candid； never run away with by spirits or by selfishness；
which fancied itself strong feeling； and yet； with a sensibility to
what was amiable and lovely； and a value for all the felicities of
domestic life； which characters of fancied enthusiasm and violent
agitation seldom really possess。 She was sure that he had not been
happy in marriage。 Colonel Wallis said it； and Lady Russell saw it；
but it had been no unhappiness to sour his mind； nor （she began
pretty soon to suspect） to prevent his thinking of a second choice。
Her satisfaction in Mr。 Elliot outweighed all the plague of Mrs。
Clay。
It was now some years since Anne had begun to learn that she
and her excellent friend could sometimes think differently； and it
did not surprise her； therefore； that Lady Russell should see
nothing suspicious or inconsistent； nothing to require more
motives than
