第 15 节
作者:绝对601      更新:2022-04-16 12:12      字数:9241
  had affected her spirits exceedingly; and thrown   her  into  greater
  grief for him than she had know on first hearing of his death。 Mr。
  Musgrove was; in a lesser degree; affected likewise; and when they
  reached   the   cottage;   they   were   evidently   in   want;   first;   of   being
  listened   to   anew   on   this   subject;   and   afterwards;   of   all   the   relief
  which cheerful companions could give them。
  To hear them talking so much of Captain Wentworth; repeating
  his    name      so   often;    puzzling      over    past    years;    and    at   last
  ascertaining that it might; that it probably would; turn out to be the
  very   same   Captain       Wentworth   whom          they   recollected   meeting;
  once   or   twice;   after   their   coming   back   from   Clifton—a   very   fine
  young man—but they could not say whether it was seven or eight
  years   ago;   was   a   new   sort   of   trial   to   Anne’s   nerves。   She   found;
  however; that it was one to which she must inure herself。 Since he
  actually was expected in the country; she must teach herself to be
  insensible on such points。 And not only did it appear that he was
  expected;       and    speedily;     but    the   Musgroves;        in   their   warm
  gratitude for the kindness he had shewn poor Dick; and very high
  respect for his character; stamped as it was by poor Dick’s having
  been   six   months   under   his   care;   and   mentioning   him   in   strong;
  though   not   perfectly   well…spelt   praise;   as   “a   fine   dashing   felow;
  only     two    perticular     about     the   schoolmaster;”        were     bent    on
  introducing themselves; and seeking his acquaintance; as soon as
  they could hear of his arrival。
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  The resolution of doing so helped to form   the   comfort  of  their
  evening。
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  CHAPTER VII
  very few days more; and Captain Wentworth was known
  Ato be at  Kellynch; and   Mr。   Musgrove   had   called   on   him;
  and come back   warm   in   his  praise; and   he   was   engaged
  with the Crofts to dine at Uppercross; by the end of another week。
  It had been a great disappointment  to  Mr。   Musgrove   to  find   that
  no   earlier   day   could   be   fixed;   so   impatient   was   he   to   shew   his
  gratitude; by seeing Captain Wentworth  under  his   own   roof;   and
  welcoming him to all that was strongest and best in his cellars。 But
  a week must pass; only a week; in Anne’s reckoning; and then; she
  supposed;   they   must   meet;   and   soon   she   began   to   wish   that   she
  could feel secure even for a week。
  Captain Wentworth made a very early return to Mr。 Musgrove’s
  civility; and she was all but calling there in the same half hour!—
  She and Mary were actually setting forward for the Great House;
  where; as she afterwards learnt; they must inevitably have   found
  him;   when   they   were   stopped   by   the   eldest   boy’s   being   at   that
  moment  brought   home   in   consequence   of   a   bad   fall。   The   child’s
  situation put the visit entirely aside; but she could not hear of her
  escape with indifference; even in the midst of the serious anxiety
  which they afterwards felt on his account。
  His   collar…bone     was   found    to   be  dislocated;   and   such   injury
  received in the back; as roused the most alarming ideas。 It was an
  afternoon of distress; and Anne had every thing to do at once—the
  apothecary        to   send    for—the      father    to   have    pursued      and
  informed—the   mother   to   support   and   keep   from   hysterics—the
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  servants   to   control—the   youngest   child   to   banish;   and   the   poor
  suffering  one  to  attend   and   soothe;—besides   sending;   as   soon   as
  she recollected it; proper notice to the other house; which brought
  her an accession rather of frightened; enquiring companions; than
  of very useful assistants。
  Her  brother’s   return   was   the   first  comfort;   he   could   take   best
  care   of   his   wife;   and   the   second   blessing   was   the   arrival   of   the
  apothecary。        Till  he    came     and    had    examined       the   child;    their
  apprehensions   were   the   worse   for   being   vague;—they   suspected
  great   injury;   but   knew   not   where;   but   now   the   collar…bone   was
  soon replaced; and though Mr。 Robinson felt and felt; and rubbed;
  and looked grave; and spoke low words both to the father and the
  aunt; still they were all to hope the best; and to be able to part and
  eat   their   dinner   in   tolerable   ease   of   mind;   and   then   it   was;   just
  before   they  parted;   that  the   two  young  aunts   were   able   so   far   to
  digress   from   their   nephew’s   state;   as   to   give   the   information   of
  Captain       Wentworth’s        visit;—staying       five  minutes      behind      their
  father     and     mother;      to   endeavour       to   express      how     perfectly
  delighted       they    were     with    him;    how     much      handsomer;        how
  infinitely   more   agreeable   they   thought   him   than   any   individual
  among   their   male   acquaintance;   who   had   been   at   all   a   favourite
  before—how  glad   they   had   been   to   hear   papa   invite   him   to   stay
  dinner—how  sorry  when   he   said   it   was   quite   out   of   his   power—
  and how  glad again   when   he   had promised   in   reply  to  papa   and
  mamma’s farther pressing invitations to come and dine with them
  on the morrow; actually on the morrow!—And he had promised it
  in   so   pleasant     a  manner;      as   if  he  felt  all  the   motive     of  their
  attention just as he ought!—And; in short; he had looked and said
  everything with such exquisite grace; that they could assure them
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  all; their heads were both turned by him!—And off they ran; quite
  as   full  of  glee   as  of   love;  and   apparently   more       full  of  Captain
  Wentworth than of little Charles。
  The same story and the same raptures were repeated; when the
  two girls came with their father; through the gloom of the evening;
  to   make   enquiries;   and   Mr。   Musgrove;   no   longer   under   the   first
  uneasiness about his heir; could add his confirmation and praise;
  and   hope   there   would   be   now   no   occasion   for   putting   Captain
  Wentworth off; and only be sorry  to  think   that  the   cottage   party;
  probably;   would   not   like   to   leave   the   little   boy;   to   give   him   the
  meeting。—“Oh  no;  as   to leaving  the   little boy!”—both   father   and
  mother   were   in   much   too   strong   and   recent   alarm   to   bear   the
  thought; and Anne; in the joy of the escape; could not help adding
  her warm protestations to theirs。
  Charles       Musgrove;       indeed;     afterwards;      shewed       more      of
  inclination;   “the   child   was   going   on   so   well—and   he   wished   so
  much   to   be   introduced   to   Captain   Wentworth;   that;   perhaps;   he
  might join them in the evening; he would not dine from home; but
  he   might   walk   in   for   half   an   hour。”   But   in   this   he   was   eagerly
  opposed by his wife; with “Oh! no; indeed; Charles; I cannot bear
  to have you go away。 Only think if anything should happen?”
  The child had a good night; and was going on well the next day。
  It must be a work of time to ascertain that no injury had been done
  to  the   spine; but   Mr。   Robinson   found   nothing   to   increase   alarm;
  and   Charles   Musgrove   began;   consequently;   to   feel   no   necessity
  for   longer    confinement。       The    child   was   to  be   kept   in   bed   and
  amused as quietly as possible; but what was there for a   father  to
  do? This was quite a female case; and it would be highly absurd in
  him; who could be of no use at home; to shut himself up。 His father
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