第 32 节
作者:绝对601      更新:2022-04-16 12:12      字数:9275
  The   tone;   the   look;   with   which   “Thank   God!”   was   uttered   by
  Captain   Wentworth;   Anne   was   sure   could   never   be   forgotten   by
  her; nor the sight of him afterwards; as he sat near a table; leaning
  over it with folded arms and face concealed; as if overpowered by
  the various feelings of his soul; and trying by prayer and reflection
  to calm them。
  Louisa’s   limbs   had   escaped。   There   was   no   injury   but   to   the
  head。
  It   now   became   necessary   for   the   party   to   consider   what   was
  best to be done; as to their general situation。 They were now able
  to   speak    to  each    other   and   consult。    That    Louisa    must    remain
  where she was; however distressing to her friends to be involving
  the Harvilles in such trouble; did not admit a doubt。 Her removal
  was impossible。 The Harvilles silenced all scruples; and; as much
  as    they    could;   all   gratitude。    They     had    looked     forward     and
  arranged   everything   before   the   others   began   to   reflect。   Captain
  Benwick   must   give   up   his   room   to   them;   and   get   another   bed
  elsewhere—and the whole was settled。 They were only concerned
  that the house could accommodate no more; and yet perhaps; by
  “putting the children away in the maid’s room; or swinging a cot
  somewhere;” they could hardly bear to think of not finding room
  for   two    or  three    besides;    supposing      they   might    wish    to  stay;
  though;   with   regard   to   any   attendance   on   Miss   Musgrove;   there
  need not be the least uneasiness in leaving her to Mrs。 Harville’s
  care entirely。 Mrs。 Harville was a very experienced nurse; and her
  nursery…maid; who had lived   with  her  long; and   gone about  with
  her   everywhere;   was   just   such   another。   Between   these   two;   she
  could   want   no   possible   attendance   by   day   or   night。   And   all   this
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  was said with a truth and sincerity of feeling irresistible。
  Charles;   Henrietta;   and   Captain   Wentworth   were   the   three   in
  consultation;   and   for   a   little   while   it   was   only   an   interchange   of
  perplexity   and   terror。   “Uppercross;—the   necessity   of   some   one’s
  going to Uppercross;—the news to be conveyed—how it could be
  broken to Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove;—the lateness of the morning—
  an    hour   already     gone   since   they   ought    to  have    been    off;—the
  impossibility of being in tolerable time。” At first; they were capable
  of nothing more to the purpose than such exclamations; but; after
  a while; Captain Wentworth; exerting himself; said;
  “We must be decided; and without the loss of another minute。
  Every minute is valuable。 Some one must resolve on being off for
  Uppercross instantly。 Musgrove; either you or I must go。”
  Charles agreed; but declared his resolution   of  not  going away。
  He would be as little incumbrance as possible to Captain and Mrs。
  Harville;   but   as   to   leaving   his   sister   in   such   a   state;   he   neither
  ought;   nor   would。   So   far   it   was   decided;   and   Henrietta   at   first
  declared   the   same。   She;   however;   was   soon   persuaded   to   think
  differently。 The usefulness of her staying!—She who had not been
  able    to   remain     in  Louisa’s     room;    or  to   look   at  her;   without
  sufferings which made her worse than helpless! She was forced to
  acknowledge that she could do no good; yet was still unwilling to
  be away; till; touched by the thought of her father and mother; she
  gave it up; she consented; she was anxious to be at home。
  The   plan   had   reached   this   point;   when   Anne;   coming   quietly
  down   from   Louisa’s   room;   could   not   but   hear   what   followed;   for
  the parlour door was open。
  “Then it is settled; Musgrove;” cried Captain Wentworth; “that
  you  stay;   and  that  I   take  care   of   your   sister   home。   But   as   to   the
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  rest;—as to the others;—If one stays to assist Mrs。 Harville; I think
  it need be only one。—Mrs。 Charles Musgrove will; of course; wish
  to get back to her children; but if Anne will stay; no one so proper;
  so capable as Anne!”
  She paused a moment to recover from   the  emotion   of  hearing
  herself so spoken of。 The other two  warmly  agreed   with  what  he
  said; and she then appeared。
  “You will stay; I am sure; you will stay and nurse her;” cried he;
  turning   to   her   and   speaking   with   a   glow;   and   yet   a   gentleness;
  which   seemed   almost   restoring   the   past。—She   coloured   deeply;
  and    he   recollected    himself    and   moved     away。—She       expressed
  herself most willing; ready; happy to remain。 “It was what she had
  been thinking of; and wishing to be allowed to do。—A bed on the
  floor in Louisa’s room would be sufficient for her; if Mrs。 Harville
  would but think so。”
  One thing more; and all seemed arranged。 Though it was rather
  desirable     that   Mr。   and   Mrs。    Musgrove     should    be   previously
  alarmed   by   some   share      of  delay;  yet   the  time  required   by   the
  Uppercross       horses    to  take   them    back;   would    be   a   dreadful
  extension     of  suspense;    and    Captain    Wentworth      proposed;    and
  Charles Musgrove agreed; that it would be much better for him to
  take a chaise from the inn; and leave Mr。 Musgrove’s carriage and
  horses to be sent home the next morning early; when there would
  be the farther advantage of sending an account of Louisa’s night。
  Captain Wentworth now hurried off to get everything ready on
  his part; and to be soon followed by the two ladies。 When the plan
  was made known to Mary; however; there was an end of all peace
  in it。 She was so wretched and so vehement; complained so much
  of injustice in being expected to go away instead of Anne;—Anne;
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  who was nothing to Louisa; while she was her sister; and had the
  best  right  to  stay  in   Henrietta’s stead! Why  was   not  she   to be   as
  useful   as   Anne?   And   to   go   home   without   Charles;   too;—without
  her husband! No; it was too unkind。 And in short;   she  said   more
  than her husband could long withstand; and as none of the others
  could   oppose   when   he   gave   way;   there   was   no   help   for   it:      the
  change of Mary for Anne was inevitable。
  Anne had never submitted more reluctantly to the jealous and
  ill…judging  claims   of  Mary; but  so  it  must  be; and  they  set  off   for
  the town; Charles   taking care   of  his  sister; and   Captain   Benwick
  attending      to   her。   She    gave    a  moment’s       recollection;     as  they
  hurried   along;   to   the   little   circumstances   which   the   same   spots
  had   witnessed   earlier   in   the   morning。   There   she   had   listened   to
  Henrietta’s schemes   for  Dr。   Shirley’s leaving  Uppercross;   farther
  on; she had first seen Mr。 Elliot; a moment seemed all that could
  now be given to any one but Louisa; or those who were wrapt up
  in her welfare。
  Captain Benwick was most considerately attentive to her; and;
  united   as   they   all   seemed   by   the   distress   of   the   day;   she   felt   an
  increasing degree of good…will towards him; and a pleasure even in
  thinking that it might; perhaps; be the occasion of continuing their
  acquaintance。
  Captain   Wentworth   was   on   the   watch   for   them;   and   a   chaise
  and four in waiting; stationed for their convenience in the lowest
  part   of   the   street;   but   his   evident   surprise   and   vexation   at   the
  substitution       of  one    sister   for   the    other;   the    change     in   his
  countenance—the            astonishment—the           expressions       begun      and
  suppressed;       with    which     Charles    was    listened    to;  made     but   a
  mortifying  reception   of  Anne;   or   must   at   least   convince   her   that
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  she was valued only as she could be useful to L