persuasion(劝导)-第74节
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the occasion； was very far from thinking it a bad match for her。—
On the contrary when he saw more of Capt。 W。 & eyed him well；
he was very much struck by his personal claims & felt that his
superiority of appearance might be not unfairly balanced against
her superiority of Rank；—and all this； together with his well…
sounding name； enabled Sir W。 at last to prepare his pen with a
very good grace for the insertion of the Marriage in the volume of
Honour。—The only person among them whose opposition of
feelings could excite any serious anxiety； was Lady Russell。—Anne
knew that Lady R。 must be suffering some pain in understanding
& relinquishing Mr E。 & be making some struggles to become
truly acquainted with & do justice to Capt。 W。—This however； was
what Lady R。 had now to do。 She must learn to feel that she had
been mistaken with regard to both—that she had been unfairly
influenced by appearances in each—that； because Capt。 W。’s
manners had not suited her own ideas； she had been too quick in
suspecting them to indicate a Character of dangerous Impetuosity；
& that because Mr Elliot’s manners had precisely pleased her in
their propriety & correctness； their general politeness & suavity；
she had been too quick in receiving them as the certain result of
the most correct opinions & well regulated Mind。 There was
nothing less for Lady R。 to do than to admit that she had been
pretty completely wrong； & to take up a new set of opinions &
hopes。—There is a quickness of perception in some； a nicety in the
discernment of character—a natural Penetration in short which
no Experience in others can equal—and Lady R。 had been less
gifted in this part of Understanding than her young friend；—but
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she was a very good Woman； & if her second object was to be
sensible & well judging； her first was to see Anne happy。 She
loved Anne better than she loved her own abilities—and when the
awkwardness of the Beginning was over； found little hardship in
attaching herself as a Mother to the Man who was securing the
happiness of her Child。 Of all the family； Mary was probably the
one most immediately gratified by the circumstance。 It was
creditable to have a Sister married； and she might flatter herself
that she had been greatly instrumental to the connection； by
having Anne staying with her in the Autumn； & as her own Sister
must be better than her Husbands Sisters； it was very agreable
that Captain W。 should be a richer Man than either Capt。 B。 or
Charles Hayter。—She had something to suffer perhaps when they
came into contact again； in seeing Anne restored to the rights of
Seniority & the Mistress of a very pretty Landaulet—but she had a
future to look forward to； of powerful consolation—Anne had no
Uppercross Hall before her； no Landed Estate； no Headship of a
family； and if they could but keep Capt。 W。 from being made a
Baronet； she would not change situations with Anne。—It would be
well for the Eldest Sister if she were equally satisfied with her
situation； for a change is not very probable there。—She had soon
the mortification of seeing Mr E。 withdraw； & no one of proper
condition has since presented himself to raise even the unfounded
hopes which sunk with him。 The news of his Cousin Anne’s
engagement burst on Mr Elliot most unexpectedly。 It deranged his
best plan of domestic Happiness； his best hopes of keeping Sir
Walter single by the watchfulness which a son in law’s rights
would have given—But tho’ discomfited & disappointed； he could
still do something for his own interest & his own enjoyment。 He
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soon quitted Bath and on Mrs Clay’s quitting it likewise soon
afterwards & being next heard of； as established under his
Protection in London； it was evident how double a Game he had
been playing； & how determined he was to save himself from
being cut out by one artful woman at least。—Mrs Clay’s affections
had overpowered her Interest； & she had sacrificed for the Young
Man’s sake； the possibility of scheming longer for Sir Walter；—she
has Abilities however as well as Affections； and it is now a doubtful
point whether his cunning or hers may finally carry the day；
whether； after preventing her from being the wife of Sir Walter； he
may not be wheedled & caressed at last into making her the wife
of Sir William。
It cannot be doubted that Sir Walter & Elizabeth were shocked
& mortified by the loss of their companion & the discovery of their
deception in her。 They had their great cousins to be sure； to resort
to for comfort—but they must long feel that to flatter & follow
others； without being flattered & followed themselves is but a state
of half enjoyment。
Anne； satisfied at a very early period； of Lady Russell’s meaning
to love Capt。 W。 as she ought； had no other alloy to the happiness
of her prospects； than what arose from the consciousness of
having no relations to bestow on him which a Man of Sense could
value。—There； she felt her own Inferiority keenly。—The
disproportion in their fortunes was nothing；—it did not give her a
moment’s regret；—but to have no Family to receive & estimate
him properly； nothing of respectability； of Harmony； of Goodwill to
offer in return for all the Worth & all the prompt welcome which
met her in his Brothers & Sisters； was a source of as lively pain； as
her Mind could well be sensible of； under circumstances of
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otherwise strong felicity。—She had but two friends in the World；
to add to his List； Lady R。 & Mrs Smith。—To those however； he
was very well…disposed to attach himself。 Lady R。 inspite of all her
former transgressions； he could now value from his heart；—while
he was not obliged to say that he believed her to have been right in
originally dividing them； he was ready to say almost anything else
in her favour；—& as for Mrs Smith； she had claims of various
kinds to recommend her quickly & permanently。—Her recent
good offices by Anne had been enough in themselves—and their
marriage； instead of depriving her of one friend secured her two。
She was one of their first visitors in their settled Life—and Capt。
Wentworth； by putting her in the way of recovering her Husband’s
property in the W。 Indies； by writing for her； & acting for her； &
seeing her through all the petty Difficulties of the case； with the
activity & exertion of a fearless Man； & a determined friend； fully
requited the services she had rendered； or had ever meant to
render； to his Wife。 Mrs Smith’s enjoyments were not spoiled by
this improvement of Income； with some improvement of health； &
the acquisition of such friends to be often with； for her
chearfulness & mental Activity did not fail her； & while those
prime supplies of Good remained； she might have bid defiance
even to greater accessions of worldly Prosperity。 She might have
been absolutely rich & perfectly healthy； & yet be happy。—Her
spring of Felicity was in the glow of her Spirits—as her friend
Anne’s was in the warmth of her Heart。—Anne was Tenderness
itself；—and she had the full wort
