persuasion(劝导)-第58节
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absent some time or other； I do not perceive how he can ever be
secure while she holds her present influence。 Mrs。 Wallis has an
amusing idea； as nurse tells me； that it is to be put into the
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marriage articles when you and Mr。 Elliot marry； that your father
is not to marry Mrs。 Clay。 A scheme； worthy of Mrs。 Wallis’s
understanding； by all accounts； but my sensible nurse Rooke sees
the absurdity of it。—‘Why； to be sure； ma’am；’ said she； ‘it would
not prevent his marrying anybody else。’ And； indeed； to own the
truth； I do not think nurse； in her heart； is a very strenuous
opposer of Sir Walter’s making a second match。 She must be
allowed to be a favourer of matrimony； you know； and （since self
will intrude） who can say that she may not have some flying
visions of attending the next Lady Elliot； through Mrs。 Wallis’s
recommendation？”
“I am very glad to know all this；” said Anne； after a little
thoughtfulness。 “It will be more painful to me in some respects to
be in company with him； but I shall know better what to do。 My
line of conduct will be more direct。 Mr。 Elliot is evidently a
disingenuous； artificial； worldly man； who has never had any
better principle to guide him than selfishness。”
But Mr。 Elliot was not done with。 Mrs。 Smith had been carried
away from her first direction； and Anne had forgotten； in the
interest of her own family concerns； how much had been originally
implied against him； but her attention was now called to the
explanation of those first hints； and she listened to a recital which；
if it did not perfectly justify the unqualified bitterness of Mrs。
Smith； proved him to have been very unfeeling in his conduct
towards her； very deficient both in justice and compassion。
She learned that （the intimacy between them continuing
unimpaired by Mr。 Elliot’s marriage） they had been as before
always together； and Mr。 Elliot had led his friend into expenses
much beyond his fortune。 Mrs。 Smith did not want to take blame
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to herself； and was most tender of throwing any on her husband；
but Anne could collect that their income had never been equal to
their style of living； and that from the first there had been a great
deal of general and joint extravagance。 From his wife’s account of
him she could discern Mr。 Smith to have been a man of warm
feelings； easy temper； careless habits； and not strong
understanding； much more amiable than his friend； and very
unlike him； led by him； and probably despised by him。 Mr。 Elliot；
raised by his marriage to great affluence； and disposed to every
gratification of pleasure and vanity which could be commanded
without involving himself （for with all his self…indulgence he had
become a prudent man）； and beginning to be rich； just as his
friend ought to have found himself to be poor； seemed to have had
no concern at all for that friend’s probable finances； but； on the
contrary； had been prompting and encouraging expenses which
could end only in ruin。 And the Smiths accordingly had been
ruined。
The husband had died just in time to be spared the full
knowledge of it。 They had previously known embarrassments
enough to try the friendship of their friends； and to prove that Mr。
Elliot’s had better not be tried； but it was not till his death that the
wretched state of his affairs was fully known。 With a confidence in
Mr。 Elliot’s regard； more creditable to his feelings than his
judgment； Mr。 Smith had appointed him the executor of his will；
but Mr。 Elliot would not act； and the difficulties and distress which
this refusal had heaped on her； in addition to the inevitable
sufferings of her situation； had been such as could not be related
without anguish of spirit； or listened to without corresponding
indignation。
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Anne was shewn some letters of his on the occasion； answers to
urgent applications from Mrs。 Smith； which all breathed the same
stern resolution of not engaging in a fruitless trouble； and； under a
cold civility； the same hard…hearted indifference to any of the evils
it might bring on her。 It was a dreadful picture of ingratitude and
inhumanity； and Anne felt； at some moments； that no flagrant
open crime could have been worse。 She had a great deal to listen
to； all the particulars of past sad scenes； all the minutiae of distress
upon distress； which in former conversations had been merely
hinted at； were dwelt on now with a natural indulgence。 Anne
could perfectly comprehend the exquisite relief； and was only the
more inclined to wonder at the composure of her friend’s usual
state of mind。
There was one circumstance in the history of her grievances of
particular irritation。 She had good reason to believe that some
property of her husband in the West Indies； which had been for
many years under a sort of sequestration for the payment of its
own incumbrances； might be recoverable by proper measures； and
this property； though not large； would be enough to make her
comparatively rich。 But there was nobody to stir in it。 Mr。 Elliot
would do nothing； and she could do nothing herself； equally
disabled from personal exertion by her state of bodily weakness；
and from employing others by her want of money。 She had no
natural connexions to assist her even with their counsel； and she
could not afford to purchase the assistance of the law。 This was a
cruel aggravation of actually streightened means。 To feel that she
ought to be in better circumstances； that a little trouble in the
right place might do it； and to fear that delay might be even
weakening her claims； was hard to bear！
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It was on this point that she had hoped to engage Anne’s good
offices with Mr。 Elliot。 She had previously； in the anticipation of
their marriage； been very apprehensive of losing her friend by it；
but on being assured that he could have made no attempt of that
nature； since he did not even know her to be in Bath； it
immediately occurred； that something might be done in her favour
by the influence of the woman he loved； and she had been hastily
preparing to interest Anne’s feelings； as far as the observances due
to Mr。 Elliot’s character would allow； when Anne’s refutation of
the supposed engagement changed the face of everything； and
while it took from her the new…formed hope of succeeding in the
object of her first anxiety； left her at least the comfort of telling the
whole story her own way。
After listening to this full description of Mr。 Elliot； Anne could
not but express some surprise at Mrs。 Smith’s having spoken of
him so favourably in the beginning of their conversation。 “She had
seemed to recommend and praise him！”
“My dear；” was Mrs。 Smith’s reply； “there was nothing else to
be done。 I considered your marrying him as certain； though he
might not yet have made the offer； and I could no more speak the
truth of him； than if he had been your
