第 12 节
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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