第 12 节
作者:绝对601      更新:2022-04-16 12:12      字数:9280
  good understanding and agreement together; that good…humoured
  mutual   affection;   of   which   she   had   known   so   little   herself   with
  either of her sisters。
  They     were     received     with   great    cordiality。    Nothing      seemed
  amiss on the side of the Great House family; which was generally;
  as   Anne   very   well   knew;   the   least   to   blame。   The   half   hour   was
  chatted away pleasantly enough; and she was not at all surprised
  at the end of it; to have their walking party joined by both the Miss
  Musgroves; at Mary’s particular invitation。
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  CHAPTER VI
  nne had not wanted this visit to Uppercross; to learn that
  Aa removal from one set of people to another; though at a
  distance     of  only   three   miles;   will  often   include    a  total
  change   of   conversation;   opinion;   and   idea。   She   had   never   been
  staying there before; without being struck by it; or without wishing
  that    other    Elliots   could    have    her    advantage      in  seeing    how
  unknown;        or  unconsidered        there;   were    the    affairs   which    at
  Kellynch      Hall   were    treated    as   of  such    general    publicity    and
  pervading interest; yet; with all this   experience;   she believed   she
  must now submit to feel that another lesson; in the art of knowing
  our     own    nothingness       beyond      our   own     circle;   was    become
  necessary for her;—for certainly; coming as she did; with a   heart
  full   of  the  subject    which    had   been    completely     occupying      both
  houses in Kellynch for many weeks; she had expected rather more
  curiosity   and   sympathy   than   she   found   in   the   separate   but   very
  similar   remark   of   Mr。   and   Mrs。   Musgrove—“So;   Miss   Anne;   Sir
  Walter   and   your   sister   are   gone;   and   what   part   of   Bath   do   you
  think   they  will settle   in?”   and   this;   without   much   waiting   for   an
  answer;—or in the young ladies’ addition of; “I hope we shall be in
  Bath in the winter; but remember; papa; if we do go; we must be
  in a good situation: none of your Queen…squares for us!” or in the
  anxious   supplement   from         Mary;    of  “Upon   my   word;      I  shall   be
  pretty well off; when you are all gone away to be happy at Bath!”
  She could only resolve to avoid such self…delusion in future; and
  think   with   heightened   gratitude   of   the   extraordinary   blessing   of
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  having one such truly sympathising friend as Lady Russell。
  The    Mr。    Musgroves      had    their   own    game     to  guard;    and   to
  destroy; their own horses; dogs; and newspapers to engage them;
  and    the   females     were   fully   occupied     in  all  the  other    common
  subjects of housekeeping; neighbours; dress; dancing; and music。
  She     acknowledged        it  to  be  very   fitting;  that   every   little  social
  commonwealth   should   dictate   its   own   matters   of   discourse;   and
  hoped; ere long; to become a not unworthy member of the one she
  was    now    transplanted      into。—With       the  prospect     of  spending     at
  least two months at Uppercross; it was highly incumbent on her to
  clothe her imagination; her memory; and all her ideas in as much
  of Uppercross as possible。
  She    had    no   dread    of  these    two   months。     Mary     was   not   so
  repulsive   and   unsisterly   as   Elizabeth;   nor   so   inaccessible   to   all
  influence   of   hers;   neither   was     there   anything   among   the   other
  component        parts   of  the   cottage    inimical    to  comfort。—She        was
  always      on  friendly    terms    with    her   brother…in…law;      and    in  the
  children; who loved her nearly as well; and respected her a great
  deal    more     than    their   mother;    she    had   an   object    of  interest;
  amusement; and wholesome exertion。
  Charles Musgrove was civil and agreeable; in sense and temper
  he   was   undoubtedly   superior   to   his   wife;   but   not   of   powers;   or
  conversation; or grace; to make the past; as they  were   connected
  together;   at   all   a   dangerous   contemplation;   though;   at   the   same
  time;   Anne   could   believe;   with   Lady   Russell;   that   a   more   equal
  match might have greatly improved him; and that a woman of real
  understanding         might     have     given    more     consequence        to   his
  character;   and   more   usefulness;   rationality;   and   elegance   to   his
  habits and pursuits。 As it was; he did nothing with much zeal; but
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  sport;   and   his   time   was   otherwise   trifled   away;   without   benefit
  from books or anything else。 He had very good spirits; which never
  seemed much affected by his wife’s occasional lowness; bore with
  her unreasonableness sometimes to Anne’s admiration; and upon
  the   whole;   though   there   was   very   often   a   little   disagreement   (in
  which     she   had    sometimes      more    share    than   she   wished;     being
  appealed to by both parties); they might pass for a happy couple。
  They   were   always   perfectly   agreed   in   the   want   of   more   money;
  and a strong  inclination   for  a   handsome present  from   his   father;
  but here; as on most topics; he had the superiority; for while Mary
  thought   it   a   great   shame   that   such   a   present   was   not   made;   he
  always contended for his father’s having  many  other  uses   for  his
  money; and a right to spend it as he liked。
  As   to  the   management  of  their  children;   his   theory   was   much
  better    than    his  wife’s;   and    his  practice    not   so  bad。—“I      could
  manage them very well; if it were not for Mary’s   interference;”—
  was what Anne often heard him say; and had a good deal of faith
  in;   but   when    listening    in  turn   to  Mary’s    reproach      of  “Charles
  spoils the children so that I cannot get them into any order;”—she
  never had the smallest temptation to say; “Very true。”
  One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence there
  was her being treated with too much confidence by all parties; and
  being   too   much   in   the   secret   of   the   complaints     of  each   house。
  Known to have some influence with her sister; she was continually
  requested; or at least receiving hints to exert it; beyond what was
  practicable。   “I   wish   you   could   persuade   Mary   not   to   be   always
  fancying herself ill;” was Charles’s language; and;   in   an   unhappy
  mood; thus   spoke   Mary—“I do  believe   if  Charles   were   to  see me
  dying; he would not think there was anything the matter with me。
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  I   am   sure;   Anne;   if   you   would;   you   might   persuade   him   that   I
  really am very ill—a great deal worse than I ever own。”
  Mary’s     declaration     was;    “I  hate   sending     the  children     to  the
  Great House; though their grandmamma is always wanting to see
  them;   for  she   humours   and   indulges   them   to  such a   degree;   and
  gives them so much trash and sweet things; that they are sure to
  come      back   sick   and   cross   for   the  rest   of  the  day。”—And        Mrs。
  Musgrove took the first opportunity of being alone   with  Anne;  to
  say;   “Oh!   Miss   Anne;   I   cannot   help   wishing   Mrs。   Charles   had   a
  little of your method with those children。 They are quite different
  creatures with you! But to be sure; in general they are so spoilt! It
  is a pity you cannot put your sister in the way of managing them。
  They   are   as   fine   healthy   children   as   ever   were   seen;   poor   little
  dears;   without   partiality;   but   Mrs。   Charles   knows   no   more   how
  they    should     be  treated!—Bless        me;   how    troublesome       they    are
  sometimes!—I   assure   you;   Miss   Anne;   it   prevents   my   wishing   to
  see them at our house so often as I otherwise should。 I