第 23 节
作者:绝对601      更新:2022-04-16 12:12      字数:9297
  for   none   of   it。   It   was   evident   that   Charles   Hayter   was   not   well
  inclined towards Captain Wentworth。 She had a strong impression
  of    his   having      said;   in   a   vext    tone     of  voice;    after    Captain
  Wentworth’s interference; “You ought to have minded me; Walter;
  I   told   you   not   to   teaze   your   aunt;”   and     could    comprehend         his
  regretting   that   Captain   Wentworth   should   do   what   he   ought   to
  have     done     himself。    But    neither     Charles     Hayter’s     feelings;    nor
  anybody’s   feelings;   could   interest   her;   till   she   had   a   little   better
  arranged her own。 She was ashamed of herself; quite ashamed of
  being so nervous; so overcome by such a trifle; but so it was; and it
  required   a   long   application   of   solitude   and   reflection   to   recover
  her。
  Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                                ElecBook
  … Page 94…
  Jane Austen: Persuasion                             94
  CHAPTER X
  ther opportunities of making her observations could not
  fail to occur。 Anne had soon been in company with all the
  O
  four   together   often   enough   to   have   an   opinion;   though
  too   wise   to   acknowledge   as   much   at   home;   where   she   knew   it
  would     have    satisfied  neither    husband     nor   wife;  for  while    she
  considered   Louisa   to   be   rather   the   favourite;   she   could   not   but
  think;    as  far   as  she   might    dare   to  judge    from   memory      and
  experience;   that   Captain   Wentworth   was   not   in   love   with   either。
  They were more in love with him; yet there it was not love。 It was
  a little fever of admiration; but it might; probably must; end in love
  with   some。   Charles   Hayter   seemed   aware   of   being   slighted;   and
  yet   Henrietta    had   sometimes      the  air   of   being   divided  between
  them。 Anne longed for the power of representing to them all what
  they were about; and of pointing out some   of  the   evils   they  were
  exposing themselves to。 She did not attribute guile to any。 It was
  the highest satisfaction to her to believe Captain Wentworth not in
  the   least   aware   of  the  pain   he  was    occasioning。    There    was   no
  triumph;     no   pitiful  triumph    in  his  manner。     He   had;   probably;
  never heard; and never  thought  of  any  claims  of  Charles   Hayter。
  He    was   only   wrong   in   accepting   the   attentions—(for      accepting
  must be the word) of two young women at once。
  After a short struggle; however; Charles Hayter seemed to quit
  the    field。  Three   days   had    passed   without    his   coming    once    to
  Uppercross;   a   most   decided       change。    He   had   even   refused   one
  regular     invitation    to  dinner;    and   having    been    found    on   the
  Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                       ElecBook
  … Page 95…
  Jane Austen: Persuasion                                95
  occasion by Mr。 Musgrove with some large books before him; Mr。
  and  Mrs。   Musgrove   were   sure   all   could   not   be   right;   and   talked;
  with   grave   faces;   of   his   studying   himself  to   death。   It   was   Mary’s
  hope   and   belief   that   he   had   received   a   positive   dismissal       from
  Henrietta; and her husband lived under the constant dependence
  of seeing him to…morrow。 Anne could only feel that Charles Hayter
  was wise。
  One   morning;   about   this   time   Charles   Musgrove   and   Captain
  Wentworth   being   gone   a…shooting   together;   as   the   sisters   in   the
  Cottage      were    sitting   quietly   at  work;    they   were    visited    at  the
  window by the sisters from the Mansion…house。
  It was a very fine November day; and the Miss Musgroves came
  through the little grounds; and stopped for no other purpose than
  to   say;   that   they   were   going   to   take   a  long   walk;   and   therefore
  concluded   Mary  could not   like   to   go   with   them;   and   when   Mary
  immediately replied; with some  jealousy  at  not  being supposed   a
  good   walker;   “Oh;   yes;   I  should  like   to  join   you  very  much;   I am
  very fond of a long walk;” Anne felt persuaded; by the looks of the
  two     girls;  that   it  was   precisely     what    they   did   not   wish;    and
  admired       again    the   sort   of  necessity     which     the   family    habits
  seemed to produce; of every thing being to be communicated; and
  every   thing   being   to   be   done   together;   however   undesired   and
  inconvenient。 She tried to dissuade Mary from going; but in vain;
  and     that   being    the   case;   thought     it  best   to  accept     the   Miss
  Musgroves’ much more cordial invitation to herself to go likewise;
  as    she   might    be   useful    in  turning     back    with   her   sister;   and
  lessening the interference in any plan of their own。
  “I cannot imagine why they should suppose I should not like a
  long walk!” said Mary; as she went up stairs。 “Everybody is always
  Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                            ElecBook
  … Page 96…
  Jane Austen: Persuasion                                 96
  supposing   that   I   am   not   a   good   walker;   and   yet   they   would   not
  have   been pleased;   if  we   had   refused   to   join   them。   When   people
  come in this manner on purpose to ask us; how can one say no?”
  Just as they were setting off; the gentlemen returned。 They had
  taken out a young dog; who had spoilt their sport; and sent them
  back   early。   Their  time and   strength;   and   spirits;   were;   therefore;
  exactly ready for this walk; and they entered into it with pleasure。
  Could Anne have foreseen such a junction; she would have staid at
  home;      but;   from    some     feelings    of  interest    and    curiosity;    she
  fancied now  that  it  was   too  late   to  retract;   and   the   whole   six   set
  forward together in the   direction   chosen   by  the   Miss   Musgroves;
  who evidently considered the walk as under their guidance。
  Anne’s object was; not to be in the way of any body; and where
  the    narrow      paths     across    the   fields    made     many      separations
  necessary; to keep with her brother and sister。 Her pleasure in the
  walk must  arise   from   the   exercise  and   the   day;   from   the   view   of
  the   last   smiles   of   the   year   upon   the   tawny   leaves;   and   withered
  hedges;   and   from   repeating   to   herself   some   few   of   the   thousand
  poetical descriptions extant of autumn; that season of peculiar and
  inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness; that
  season   which   had   drawn   from   every   poet;   worthy   of   being   read;
  some attempt at description; or some lines of feeling。 She occupied
  her mind as much as possible in such like musings and quotations;
  but    it  was    not   possible;     that   when     within     reach    of  Captain
  Wentworth’s conversation with either of the Miss Musgroves; she
  should not try to hear it; yet she caught little very remarkable。 It
  was mere lively chat;—such as any young persons; on an intimate
  footing;   might   fall   into。   He   was   more   engaged   with   Louisa   than
  with   Henrietta。   Louisa   certainly   put   more   forward   for   his   notice
  Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                             ElecBook
  … Page 97…
  Jane Austen: Persuasion                                97
  than   her   sister。   This   distinction   appeared   to   increase;   and   there
  was   one   speech   of   Louisa’s   which   struck   her。   After   one   of   the
  many   praises   of   the   day;   which   were   continually   bursting   forth;
  Captain Wentworth added;
  “What   glorious   weather   for   the   Admiral   and   my   sister!   They
  meant   to   take   a   long   drive   this   morning;   perhaps   we   may   hail
  them from some of these hills。 They talked of coming into this side
  of the country。 I wonder whereabouts they will upset to…day。 Oh! it
  does     happen      very   often;   I  assure    you—but       my    sister   makes
  nothing of it—she would as lieve be tossed out as not。”
  “Ah! You make the most of it; I know;” cried Louisa; “but if it
  were really so; I should do just the same in her place。 If I loved a
  man;     as   she   loves   the  Admiral;     I  would     always    be   with   him;
  nothing should ever separate u