persuasion(劝导)-第62节
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were seated around Mrs。 Musgrove； and Charles came back with
Captains Harville and Wentworth。 The appearance of the latter
could not be more than the surprise of the moment。 It was
impossible for her to have forgotten to feel that this arrival of their
common friends must be soon bringing them together again。 Their
last meeting had been most important in opening his feelings； she
had derived from it a delightful conviction； but she feared from his
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looks； that the same unfortunate persuasion； which had hastened
him away from the Concert Room； still governed。 He did not seem
to want to be near enough for conversation。
She tried to be calm； and leave things to take their course； and
tried to dwell much on this argument of rational dependence—
“Surely； if there be constant attachment on each side； our hearts
must understand each other ere long。 We are not boy and girl； to
be captiously irritable； misled by every moment’s inadvertence；
and wantonly playing with our own happiness。” And yet； a few
minutes afterwards； she felt as if their being in company with each
other； under their present circumstances； could only be exposing
them to inadvertencies and misconstructions of the most
mischievous kind。
“Anne；” cried Mary； still at her window； “there is Mrs。 Clay； I
am sure； standing under the colonnade； and a gentleman with her。
I saw them turn the corner from Bath…street just now。 They
seemed deep in talk。 Who is it？—Come； and tell me。 Good
heavens！ I recollect。—It is Mr。 Elliot himself。”
“No；” cried Anne； quickly； “it cannot be Mr。 Elliot； I assure you。
He was to leave Bath at nine this morning； and does not come
back till to…morrow。”
As she spoke； she felt that Captain Wentworth was looking at
her； the consciousness of which vexed and embarrassed her； and
made her regret that she had said so much； simple as it was。
Mary； resenting that she should be supposed not to know her
own cousin； began talking very warmly about the family features；
and protesting still more positively that it was Mr。 Elliot； calling
again upon Anne to come and look for herself； but Anne did not
mean to stir； and tried to be cool and unconcerned。 Her distress
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returned； however； on perceiving smiles and intelligent glances
pass between two or three of the lady visitors； as if they believed
themselves quite in the secret。 It was evident that the report
concerning her had spread； and a short pause succeeded； which
seemed to ensure that it would now spread farther。
“Do come； Anne” cried Mary； “come and look yourself。 You will
be too late if you do not make haste。 They are parting； they are
shaking hands。 He is turning away。 Not know Mr。 Elliot； indeed！—
You seem to have forgot all about Lyme。”
To pacify Mary； and perhaps screen her own embarrassment；
Anne did move quietly to the window。 She was just in time to
ascertain that it really was Mr。 Elliot； which she had never
believed； before he disappeared on one side； as Mrs。 Clay walked
quickly off on the other； and checking the surprise which she
could not but feel at such an appearance of friendly conference
between two persons of totally opposite interest； she calmly said；
“Yes； it is Mr。 Elliot； certainly。 He has changed his hour of going； I
suppose； that is all—or I may be mistaken； I might not attend；”
and walked back to her chair； recomposed； and with the
comfortable hope of having acquitted herself well。
The visitors took their leave； and Charles； having civilly seen
them off； and then made a face at them； and abused them for
coming； began with—
“Well； mother； I have done something for you that you will like。
I have been to the theatre； and secured a box for to…morrow night。
A’n’t I a good boy？ I know you love a play； and there is room for us
all。 It holds nine。 I have engaged Captain Wentworth。 Anne will
not be sorry to join us； I am sure。 We all like a play。 Have not I
done well； mother？”
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Mrs。 Musgrove was good humouredly beginning to express her
perfect readiness for the play； if Henrietta and all the others liked
it； when Mary eagerly interrupted her by exclaiming；
“Good heavens； Charles！ how can you think of such a thing？
Take a box for to…morrow night！ Have you forgot that we are
engaged to Camden…place to…morrow night？ and that we were
most particularly asked to meet Lady Dalrymple and her
daughter； and Mr。 Elliot—all the principal family connexions—on
purpose to be introduced to them？ How can you be so forgetful？”
“Phoo！ phoo！” replied Charles； “what’s an evening party？
Never worth remembering。 Your father might have asked us to
dinner； I think； if he had wanted to see us。 You may do as you like；
but I shall go to the play。”
“Oh！ Charles； I declare it will be too abominable if you do； when
you promised to go。”
“No； I did not promise。 I only smirked and bowed； and said the
word ‘happy。’ There was no promise。”
“But you must go； Charles。 It would be unpardonable to fail。 We
were asked on purpose to be introduced。 There was always such a
great connexion between the Dalrymples and ourselves。 Nothing
ever happened on either side that was not announced
immediately。 We are quite near relations； you know； and Mr。 Elliot
too； whom you ought so particularly to be acquainted with！ Every
attention is due to Mr。 Elliot。 Consider； my father’s heir—the
future representative of the family。”
“Don’t talk to me about heirs and representatives；” cried
Charles。 “I am not one of those who neglect the reigning power to
bow to the rising sun。 If I would not go for the sake of your father；
I should think it scandalous to go for the sake of his heir。 What is
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Mr。 Elliot to me？”
The careless expression was life to Anne； who saw that Captain
Wentworth was all attention； looking and listening with his whole
soul； and that the last words brought his enquiring eyes from
Charles to herself。
Charles and Mary still talked on in the same style； he； half
serious and half jesting； maintaining the scheme for the play； and
she； invariably serious； most warmly opposing it； and not omitting
to make it known that； however determined to go to Camden…place
herself； she should not think herself very well used； if they went to
the play without her。 Mrs。 Musgrove interposed。
“We had better put it off。 Charles； you had much better go back
and change the box for Tuesday。 It would be a pity to be divided；
and we should be losing Miss Anne； too； if there is a party at her
father’s； and I am sure neither Henrietta nor I should care at all
for the play； if Miss Anne could not be with us。”
Anne felt truly obliged to her for such kindness； and quite as
much so for the opportunity it gave her of decidedly saying—
“If it depended only on my inclination； ma’am； the party at
home （excepting on Mary’s account） would not be the smallest
impediment。 I have no pleasure in the sort of meeting； and should
be too happy to change it for a play； and with you。 But； it had
better not be attempted； perhaps。
