第 21 节
作者:
绝对601 更新:2022-04-16 12:12 字数:9291
the pain of finding very altered manners; and of seeing Captain
Wentworth。
Mrs。 Musgrove and Mrs。 Hayter were sisters。 They had each
had money; but their marriages had made a material difference in
their degree of consequence。 Mr。 Hayter had some property of his
own; but it was insignificant compared with Mr。 Musgrove’s; and
while the Musgroves were in the first class of society in the
country; the young Hayters would; from their parents’ inferior;
retired; and unpolished way of living; and their own defective
education; have been hardly in any class at all; but for their
connexion with Uppercross; this eldest son of course excepted;
who had chosen to be a scholar and a gentleman; and who was
very superior in cultivation and manners to all the rest。
The two families had always been on excellent terms; there
being no pride on one side; and no envy on the other; and only
such a consciousness of superiority in the Miss Musgroves; as
made them pleased to improve their cousins。—Charles’s
attentions to Henrietta had been observed by her father and
mother without any disapprobation。 “It would not be a great
match for her; but if Henrietta liked him;”—and Henrietta did
seem to like him。
Classics in Literature: Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 86…
Jane Austen: Persuasion 86
Henrietta fully thought so herself; before Captain Wentworth
came; but from that time Cousin Charles had been very much
forgotten。
Which of the two sisters was preferred by Captain Wentworth
was as yet quite doubtful; as far as Anne’s observation reached。
Henrietta was perhaps the prettiest; Louisa had the higher spirits;
and she knew not now; whether the more gentle or the more lively
character were most likely to attract him。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove; either from seeing little; or from an
entire confidence in the discretion of both their daughters; and of
all the young men who came near them; seemed to leave
everything to take its chance。 There was not the smallest
appearance of solicitude or remark about them in the Mansion…
house; but it was different at the Cottage: the young couple there
were more disposed to speculate and wonder; and Captain
Wentworth had not been above four or five times in the Miss
Musgroves’ company; and Charles Hayter had but just
reappeared; when Anne had to listen to the opinions of her
brother and sister; as to which was the one liked best。 Charles gave
it for Louisa; Mary for Henrietta; but quite agreeing that to have
him marry either could be extremely delightful。
Charles “had never seen a pleasanter man in his life; and from
what he had once heard Captain Wentworth himself say; was very
sure that he had not made less than twenty thousand pounds by
the war。 Here was a fortune at once; besides which; there would
be the chance of what might be done in any future war; and he
was sure Captain Wentworth was as likely a man to distinguish
himself as any officer in the navy。 Oh! it would be a capital match
for either of his sisters。”
Classics in Literature: Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 87…
Jane Austen: Persuasion 87
“Upon my word it would;” replied Mary。 “Dear me! If he should
rise to any very great honours! If he should ever be made a
baronet! ‘Lady Wentworth’ sounds very well。 That would be a
noble thing; indeed; for Henrietta! She would take place of me
then; and Henrietta would not dislike that。 Sir Frederick and Lady
Wentworth! It would be but a new creation; however; and I never
think much of your new creations。”
It suited Mary best to think Henrietta the one preferred on the
very account of Charles Hayter; whose pretensions she wished to
see put an end to。 She looked down very decidedly upon the
Hayters; and thought it would be quite a misfortune to have the
existing connection between the families renewed—very sad for
herself and her children。
“You know;” said she; “I cannot think him at all a fit match for
Henrietta; and considering the alliances which the Musgroves
have made; she has no right to throw herself away。 I do not think
any young woman has a right to make a choice that may be
disagreeable and inconvenient to the principal part of her family;
and be giving bad connections to those who have not been used to
them。 And; pray; who is Charles Hayter? Nothing but a country
curate。 A most improper match for Miss Musgrove of Uppercross。
Her husband; however; would not agree with her here; for
besides having a regard for his cousin; Charles Hayter was an
eldest son; and he saw things as an eldest son himself。
“Now you are taking nonsense; Mary;” was therefore his
answer。 “It would not be a great match for Henrietta; but Charles
has a very fair chance; through the Spicers; of getting something
from the Bishop in the course of a year or two; and you will please
to remember; that he is the eldest son; whenever my uncle dies; he
Classics in Literature: Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 88…
Jane Austen: Persuasion 88
steps into very pretty property。 The estate at Winthrop is not less
than two hundred and fifty acres; besides the farm near Taunton;
which is some of the best land in the country。 I grant you; that any
of them but Charles would be a very shocking match for Henrietta;
and indeed it could not be; he is the only one that could be
possible; but he is a very good…natured; good sort of a fellow; and
whenever Winthrop comes into his hands; he will make a different
sort of place of it; and live in a very different sort of way; and with
that property; he will never be a contemptible man。 Good; freehold
property。 No; no; Henrietta might do worse than marry Charles
Hayter; and if she has him; and Louisa can get Captain
Wentworth; I shall be very well satisfied。”
“Charles may say what he pleases;” cried Mary to Anne; as soon
as he was out of the room; “but it would be shocking to have
Henrietta marry Charles Hayter; a very bad thing for her; and still
worse for me; and therefore it is very much to be wished that
Captain Wentworth may soon put him quite out of her head; and I
have very little doubt that he has。 She took hardly any notice of
Charles Hayter yesterday。 I wish you had been there to see her
behaviour。 And as to Captain Wentworth’s liking Louisa as well as
Henrietta; it is nonsense to say so; for he certainly does like
Henrietta a great deal the best。 But Charles is so positive! I wish
you had been with us yesterday; for then you might have decided
between us; and I am sure you would have thought as I did; unless
you had been determined to give it against me。
A dinner at Mr。 Musgrove’s had been the occasion when all
these things should have been seen by Anne; but she had staid at
home; under the mixed plea of a headache of her own; and some
return of indisposition in little Charles。 She had thought only of
Classics in Literature: Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 89…
Jane Austen: Persuasion 89
avoiding Captain Wentworth; but an escape from being appealed
to as umpire was now added to the advantages of a quiet evening。
As to Captain Wentworth’s views; she deemed it of more
consequence that he should know his own mind early enough not
to be endan