persuasion(劝导)-第55节
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Elliot； where she could have received the idea； or from whom she
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could have heard it。
“Do tell me how it first came into your head。”
“It first came into my head；” replied Mrs。 Smith； “upon finding
how much you were together； and feeling it to be the most
probable thing in the world to be wished for by everybody
belonging to either of you； and you may depend upon it that all
your acquaintance have disposed of you in the same way。 But I
never heard it spoken of till two days ago。”
“And has it indeed been spoken of？”
“Did you observe the woman who opened the door to you when
you called yesterday？”
“No。 Was not it Mrs。 Speed； as usual； or the maid？ I observed
no one in particular。”
“It was my friend Mrs。 Rooke—Nurse Rooke； who； by the bye；
had a great curiosity to see you； and was delighted to be in the way
to let you in。 She came away from Marlborough…buildings only on
Sunday； and she it was who told me you were to marry Mr。 Elliot。
She had had it from Mrs。 Wallis herself； which did not seem bad
authority。 She sat an hour with me on Monday evening； and gave
me the whole history。”
“The whole history；” repeated Anne； laughing。 “She could not
make a very long history； I think； of one such little article of
unfounded news。”
Mrs。 Smith said nothing。
“But；” continued Anne； presently； “though there is no truth in
my having this claim on Mr。 Elliot； I should be extremely happy to
be of use to you in any way that I could。 Shall I mention to him
your being in Bath？ Shall I take any message？”
“No； I thank you： no； certainly not。 In the warmth of the
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moment； and under a mistaken impression； I might； perhaps； have
endeavoured to interest you in some circumstances； but not now。
No； I thank you； I have nothing to trouble you with。”
“I think you spoke of having known Mr。 Elliot many years？”
“I did。”
“Not before he was married； I suppose？”
“Yes； he was not married when I knew him first。”
“And—were you much acquainted？”
“Intimately。”
“Indeed！ Then do tell me what he was at that time of life。 I have
a great curiosity to know what Mr。 Elliot was as a very young man。
Was he at all such as he appears now？”
“I have not seen Mr。 Elliot these three years；” was Mrs。 Smith’s
answer； given so gravely that it was impossible to pursue the
subject farther； and Anne felt that she had gained nothing but an
increase of curiosity。 They were both silent—Mrs。 Smith very
thoughtful。 At last；
“I beg your pardon； my dear Miss Elliot；” she cried； in her
natural tone of cordiality； “I beg your pardon for the short answers
I have been giving you； but I have been uncertain what I ought to
do。 I have been doubting and considering as to what I ought to tell
you。 There were many things to be taken into the account。 One
hates to be officious； to be giving bad impressions； making
mischief。 Even the smooth surface of family…union seems worth
preserving； though there may be nothing durable beneath。
However； I have determined； I think I am right； I think you ought
to be made acquainted with Mr。 Elliot’s real character。 Though I
fully believe that； at present； you have not the smallest intention of
accepting him； there is no saying what may happen。 You might；
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some time or other； be differently affected towards him。 Hear the
truth； therefore； now； while you are unprejudiced。 Mr。 Elliot is a
man without heart or conscience； a designing； wary； cold…blooded
being； who thinks only of himself； whom for his own interest or
ease； would be guilty of any cruelty； or any treachery； that could
be perpetrated without risk of his general character。 He has no
feeling for others。 Those whom he has been the chief cause of
leading into ruin； he can neglect and desert without the smallest
compunction。 He is totally beyond the reach of any sentiment of
justice or compassion。 Oh！ he is black at heart； hollow and black！”
Anne’s astonished air； and exclamation of wonder； made her
pause； and in a calmer manner； she added；
“My expressions startle you。 You must allow for an injured；
angry woman。 But I will try to command myself。 I will not abuse
him。 I will only tell you what I have found him。 Facts shall speak。
He was the intimate friend of my dear husband； who trusted and
loved him； and thought him as good as himself。 The intimacy had
been formed before our marriage。 I found them most intimate
friends； and I； too； became excessively pleased with Mr。 Elliot； and
entertained the highest opinion of him。 At nineteen； you know；
one does not think very seriously； but Mr。 Elliot appeared to me
quite as good as others； and much more agreeable than most
others； and we were almost always together。 We were principally
in town； living in very good style。 He was then the inferior in
circumstances； he was then the poor one； he had chambers in the
Temple； and it was as much as he could do to support the
appearance of a gentleman。 He had always a home with us
whenever he chose it； he was always welcome； he was like a
brother。 My poor Charles； who had the finest； most generous spirit
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in the world； would have divided his last farthing with him； and I
know that his purse was open to him； I know that he often assisted
him。”
“This must have been about that very period of Mr。 Elliot’s
life；” said Anne； “which has always excited my particular curiosity。
It must have been about the same time that he became known to
my father and sister。 I never knew him myself； I only heard of him；
but there was a something in his conduct then； with regard to my
father and sister； and afterwards in the circumstances of his
marriage； which I never could quite reconcile with present times。
It seemed to announce a different sort of man。”
“I know it all； I know it all；” cried Mrs。 Smith。 “He had been
introduced to Sir Walter and your sister before I was acquainted
with him； but I heard him speak of them for ever。 I know he was
invited and encouraged； and I know he did not choose to go。 I can
satisfy you； perhaps； on points which you would little expect； and
as to his marriage； I knew all about it at the time。 I was privy to all
the fors and againsts； I was the friend to whom he confided his
hopes and plans； and though I did not know his wife previously
（her inferior situation in society； indeed； rendered that
impossible）； yet I knew her all her life afterwards； or； at least； till
within the last two years of her life； and can answer any question
you may wish to put。”
“Nay；” said Anne； “I have no particular enquiry to make about
her。 I have always understood they were not a happy couple。 But I
should like to know why； at that time of his life； he should slight
my father’s acquaintance as he did。 My father was certainly
disposed to take very kind and proper notice of him。 Why did Mr。
Elliot draw back？”
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“Mr。 Elliot；” replied Mrs。 Smith； “at that period of his life； had
one object in view—to make his fortune；
