persuasion(劝导)-第49节
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street on a commission of Mrs。 Clay’s。
She now felt a great inclination to go to the outer door； she
wanted to see if it rained。 Why was she to suspect herself of
another motive？ Captain Wentworth must be out of sight。 She left
her seat； she would go； one half of her should not be always so
much wiser than the other half； or always suspecting the other of
being worse than it was。 She would see if it rained。 She was sent
back； however； in a moment by the entrance of Captain
Wentworth himself； among a party of gentlemen and ladies；
evidently his acquaintance； and whom he must have joined a little
below Milsom…street。 He was more obviously struck and confused
by the sight of her than she had ever observed before； he looked
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quite red。 For the first time； since their renewed acquaintance； she
felt that she was betraying the least sensibility of the two。 She had
the advantage of him in the preparation of the last few moments。
All the overpowering； blinding； bewildering； first effects of strong
surprise were over with her。 Still； however； she had enough to
feel！ It was agitation； pain； pleasure； a something between delight
and misery。
He spoke to her； and then turned away。 The character of his
manner was embarrassment。 She could not have called it either
cold or friendly； or anything so certainly as embarrassed。
After a short interval； however； he came towards her； and spoke
again。 Mutual enquiries on common subjects passed； neither of
them； probably； much the wiser for what they heard； and Anne
continuing fully sensible of his being less at ease than formerly。
They had by dint of being so very much together； got to speak to
each other with a considerable portion of apparent indifference
and calmness； but he could not do it now。 Time had changed him；
or Louisa had changed him。 There was consciousness of some sort
or other。 He looked very well； not as if he had been suffering in
health or spirits； and he talked of Uppercross； of the Musgroves；
nay； even of Louisa； and had even a momentary look of his own
arch significance as he named her； but yet it was Captain
Wentworth not comfortable； not easy； not able to feign that he
was。
It did not surprise； but it grieved Anne to observe that
Elizabeth would not know him。 She saw that he saw Elizabeth；
that Elizabeth saw him； that there was complete internal
recognition on each side； she was convinced that he was ready to
be acknowledged as an acquaintance； expecting it； and she had
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the pain of seeing her sister turn away with unalterable coldness。
Lady Dalrymple’s carriage； for which Miss Elliot was growing
very impatient； now drew up； the servant came in to announce it。
It was beginning to rain again； and altogether there was a delay；
and a bustle； and a talking； which must make all the little crowd in
the shop understand that Lady Dalrymple was calling to convey
Miss Elliot。 At last Miss Elliot and her friend； unattended but by
the servant； （for there was no cousin returned） were walking off；
and Captain Wentworth； watching them； turned again to Anne；
and by manner； rather than words； was offering his services to
her。
“I am much obliged to you；” was her answer； “but I am not
going with them。 The carriage would not accommodate so many。 I
walk。 I prefer walking。”
“But it rains。”
“Oh！ very little。 Nothing that I regard。”
After a moment’s pause he said： “Though I came only
yesterday； I have equipped myself properly for Bath already； you
see；” （pointing to a new umbrella） “I wish you would make use of
it； if you are determined to walk； though； I think； it would be more
prudent to let me get you a chair。”
She was very much obliged to him； but declined it all； repeating
her conviction； that the rain would come to nothing at present；
and adding； “I am only waiting for Mr。 Elliot。 He will be here in a
moment； I am sure。”
She had hardly spoken the words when Mr。 Elliot walked in。
Captain Wentworth recollected him perfectly。 There was no
difference between him and the man who had stood on the steps
at Lyme； admiring Anne as she passed； except in the air and look
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and manner of the privileged relation and friend。 He came in with
eagerness； appeared to see and think only of her； apologised for
his stay； was grieved to have kept her waiting； and anxious to get
her away without further loss of time and before the rain
increased； and in another moment they walked off together； her
arm under his； a gentle and embarrassed glance； and a “Good
morning to you！” being all that she had time for； as she passed
away。
As soon as they were out of sight； the ladies of Captain
Wentworth’s party began talking of them。
“Mr。 Elliot does not dislike his cousin； I fancy？”
“Oh！ no； that is clear enough。 One can guess what will happen
there。 He is always with them； half lives in the family； I believe。
What a very good…looking man！”
“Yes； and Miss Atkinson； who dined with him once at the
Wallises； says he is the most agreeable man she ever was in
company with。”
“She is pretty； I think； Anne Elliot； very pretty； when one comes
to look at her。 It is not the fashion to say so； but I confess I admire
her more than her sister。”
“Oh！ so do I。”
“And so do I。 No comparison。 But the men are all wild after
Miss Elliot。 Anne is too delicate for them。”
Anne would have been particularly obliged to her cousin； if he
would have walked by her side all the way to Camden…place；
without saying a word。 She had never found it so difficult to listen
to him； though nothing could exceed his solicitude and care； and
though his subjects were principally such as were wont to be
always interesting—praise； warm； just； and discriminating； of
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Lady Russell； and insinuations highly rational against Mrs。 Clay。
But just now she could think only of Captain Wentworth。 She
could not understand his present feelings； whether he were really
suffering much from disappointment or not； and till that point
were settled； she could not be quite herself。
She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time； but alas！ alas！ she
must confess to herself that she was not wise yet。
Another circumstance very essential for her to know； was how
long he meant to be in Bath； he had not mentioned it； or she could
not recollect it。 He might be only passing through。 But it was more
probable that he should be come to stay。 In that case； so liable as
every body was to meet every body in Bath； Lady Russell would in
all likelihood see him somewhere。 Would she recollect him？ How
would it all be？
She had already been obliged to tell Lady Russell that Louisa
Musgrove was to marry Captain Benwick。 It had cost her
something to encounter Lady Russell’s surprise； and now； if she
were by any chance to be thrown into company with Captain
Wentworth； her imperfect knowledge of the matter might add
anot
