persuasion(劝导)-第42节
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accept the society of those good ladies in Laura…place； and enjoy
all the advantages of the connexion as far as possible？ You may
depend upon it； that they will move in the first set in Bath this
winter； and as rank is rank； your being known to be related to
them will have its use in fixing your family （our family let me say）
in that degree of consideration which we must all wish for。”
“Yes；” sighed Anne； “we shall； indeed； be known to be related
to them！” then recollecting herself； and not wishing to be
answered； she added； “I certainly do think there has been by far
too much trouble taken to procure the acquaintance。 I suppose
（smiling） I have more pride than any of you； but I confess it does
vex me； that we should be so solicitous to have the relationship
acknowledged； which we may be very sure is a matter of perfect
indifference to them。”
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“Pardon me； dear cousin； you are unjust in your own claims。 In
London； perhaps； in your present quiet style of living； it might be
as you say； but in Bath； Sir Walter Elliot and his family will always
be worth knowing； always acceptable as acquaintance。”
“Well；” said Anne； “I certainly am proud； too proud to enjoy a
welcome which depends so entirely upon place。”
“I love your indignation；” said he； “it is very natural。 But here
you are in Bath； and the object is to be established here with all
the credit and dignity which ought to belong to Sir Walter Elliot。
You talk of being proud； I am called proud； I know； and I shall not
wish to believe myself otherwise； for our pride； if investigated；
would have the same object； I have no doubt； though the kind may
seem a little different。 In one point； I am sure； my dear cousin；”
（he continued； speaking lower； though there was no one else in the
room） “in one point； I am sure； we must feel alike。 We must feel
that every addition to your father’s society； among his equals or
superiors； may be of use in diverting his thoughts from those who
are beneath him。”
He looked； as he spoke； to the seat which Mrs。 Clay had been
lately occupying； a sufficient explanation of what he particularly
meant； and though Anne could not believe in their having the
same sort of pride； she was pleased with him for not liking Mrs。
Clay； and her conscience admitted that his wishing to promote her
father’s getting great acquaintance was more than excusable in
the view of defeating her。
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CHAPTER V
hile Sir Walter and Elizabeth were assiduously
Wpushing their good fortune in Laura…place； Anne was
renewing an acquaintance of a very different
description。
She had called on her former governess； and had heard from
her of there being an old school…fellow in Bath； who had the two
strong claims on her attention of past kindness and present
suffering。 Miss Hamilton； now Mrs。 Smith； had shewn her
kindness in one of those periods of her life when it had been most
valuable。 Anne had gone unhappy to school； grieving for the loss
of a mother whom she had dearly loved； feeling her separation
from home； and suffering as a girl of fourteen； of strong sensibility
and not high spirits； must suffer at such a time； and Miss
Hamilton； three years older than herself； but still from the want of
near relations and a settled home； remaining another year at
school； had been useful and good to her in a way which had
considerably lessened her misery； and could never be
remembered with indifference。
Miss Hamilton had left school； had married not long afterwards；
was said to have married a man of fortune； and this was all that
Anne had known of her； till now that their governess’s account
brought her situation forward in a more decided but very different
form。
She was a widow and poor。 Her husband had been extravagant；
and at his death； about two years before； had left his affairs
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dreadfully involved。 She had had difficulties of every sort to
contend with； and in addition to these distresses had been afflicted
with a severe rheumatic fever； which； finally settling in her legs；
had made her for the present a cripple。 She had come to Bath on
that account； and was now in lodgings near the hot baths； living in
a very humble way； unable even to afford herself the comfort of a
servant； and of course almost excluded from society。
Their mutual friend answered for the satisfaction which a visit
from Miss Elliot would give Mrs。 Smith； and Anne therefore lost
no time in going。 She mentioned nothing of what she had heard；
or what she intended； at home。 It would excite no proper interest
there。 She only consulted Lady Russell； who entered thoroughly
into her sentiments； and was most happy to convey her as near to
Mrs。 Smith’s lodgings in Westgate…buildings； as Anne chose to be
taken。
The visit was paid； their acquaintance re…established； their
interest in each other more than re…kindled。 The first ten minutes
had its awkwardness and its emotion。 Twelve years were gone
since they had parted； and each presented a somewhat different
person from what the other had imagined。 Twelve years had
changed Anne from the blooming； silent； unformed girl of fifteen；
to the elegant little woman of seven…and…twenty； with every beauty
except bloom； and with manners as consciously right as they were
invariably gentle； and twelve years had transformed the fine…
looking； well…grown Miss Hamilton； in all the glow of health and
confidence of superiority； into a poor； infirm； helpless widow；
receiving the visit of her former protegeé as a favour； but all that
was uncomfortable in the meeting had soon passed away； and left
only the interesting charm of remembering former partialities and
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talking over old times。
Anne found in Mrs。 Smith the good sense and agreeable
manners which she had almost ventured to depend on； and a
disposition to converse and be cheerful beyond her expectation。
Neither the dissipations of the past—and she had lived very much
in the world； nor the restrictions of the present； neither sickness
nor sorrow seemed to have closed her heart or ruined her spirits。
In the course of a second visit she talked with great openness；
and Anne’s astonishment increased。 She could scarcely imagine a
more cheerless situation in itself than Mrs。 Smith’s。 She had been
very fond of her husband；—she had buried him。 She had been
used to affluence；—it was gone。 She had no child to connect her
with life and happiness again； no relations to assist in the
arrangement of perplexed affairs； no health to make all the rest
supportable。 Her accommodations were limited to a noisy parlour；
and a dark bedroom behind； with no possibility of moving from
one to the other without assistance； which there was only one
servant in the house to afford； and she never quitted the house but
to be conveyed into the warm bath。—Yet； in spite of all this； Anne
had reason to believe that she had moments only of languor and
depressi
