第 51 节
作者:
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honourably and kindly; only anxious with true parental hearts to
promote their daughter’s comfort。 All this is much; very much in
favour of their happiness; more than perhaps—”
He stopped。 A sudden recollection seemed to occur; and to give
him some taste of that emotion which was reddening Anne’s
cheeks and fixing her eyes on the ground。—After clearing his
throat; however; he proceeded thus;
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“I confess that I do think there is a disparity; too great a
disparity; and in a point no less essential than mind。—I regard
Louisa Musgrove as a very amiable; sweet…tempered girl; and not
deficient in understanding; but Benwick is something more。 He is
a clever man; a reading man—and I confess; that I do consider his
attaching himself to her with some surprise。 Had it been the effect
of gratitude; had he learnt to love her; because he believed her to
be preferring him; it would have been another thing。 But I have no
reason to suppose it so。 It seems; on the contrary; to have been a
perfectly spontaneous; untaught feeling on his side; and this
surprises me。 A man like him; in his situation! with a heart
pierced; wounded; almost broken! Fanny Harville was a very
superior creature; and his attachment to her was indeed
attachment。 A man does not recover from such a devotion of the
heart to such a woman!—He ought not—he does not。”
Either from the consciousness; however; that his friend had
recovered; or from other consciousness; he went no farther; and
Anne who; in spite of the agitated voice in which the latter part
had been uttered; and in spite of all the various noises of the room;
the almost ceaseless slam of the door; and ceaseless buzz of
persons walking through; had distinguished every word; was
struck; gratified; confused; and beginning to breathe very quick;
and feel an hundred things in a moment。 It was impossible for her
to enter on such a subject; and yet; after a pause; feeling the
necessity of speaking; and having not the smallest wish for a total
change; she only deviated so far as to say—
“You were a good while at Lyme; I think?”
“About a fortnight。 I could not leave it till Louisa’s doing well
was quite ascertained。 I had been too deeply concerned in the
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mischief to be soon at peace。 It had been my doing—solely mine。
She would not have been obstinate if I had not been weak。 The
country round Lyme is very fine。 I walked and rode a great deal;
and the more I saw; the more I found to admire。”
“I should very much like to see Lyme again;” said Anne。
“Indeed! I should not have supposed that you could have found
anything in Lyme to inspire such a feeling。 The horror and
distress you were involved in—the stretch of mind; the wear of
spirits!—I should have thought your last impressions of Lyme
must have been strong disgust。”
“The last hours were certainly very painful;” replied Anne: “but
when pain is over; the remembrance of it often becomes a
pleasure。 One does not love a place the less for having suffered in
it; unless it has been all suffering; nothing but suffering—which
was by no means the case at Lyme。 We were only in anxiety and
distress during the last two hours; and previously there had been a
great deal of enjoyment。 So much novelty and beauty! I have
travelled so little; that every fresh place would be interesting to
me—but there is real beauty at Lyme; and in short” (with a faint
blush at some recollections); “altogether my impressions of the
place are very agreeable。”
As she ceased; the entrance door opened again; and the very
party appeared for whom they were waiting。 “Lady Dalrymple;
Lady Dalrymple;” was the rejoicing sound; and with all the
eagerness compatible with anxious elegance; Sir Walter and his
two ladies stepped forward to meet her。 Lady Dalrymple and Miss
Carteret; escorted by Mr。 Elliot and Colonel Wallis; who had
happened to arrive nearly at the same instant; advanced into the
room。 The others joined them; and it was a group in which Anne
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found herself also necessarily included。 She was divided from
Captain Wentworth。 Their interesting; almost too interesting
conversation must be broken up for a time; but slight was the
penance compared with the happiness which brought it on! She
had learnt; in the last ten minutes; more of his feelings towards
Louisa; more of all his feelings than she dared to think of! and she
gave herself up to the demands of the party; to the needful
civilities of the moment; with exquisite; though agitated
sensations。 She was in good humour with all。 She had received
ideas which disposed her to be courteous and kind to all; and to
pity every one; as being less happy than herself。
The delightful emotions were a little subdued; when on
stepping back from the group; to be joined again by Captain
Wentworth; she saw that he was gone。 She was just in time to see
him turn into the Concert Room。 He was gone—he had
disappeared; she felt a moment’s regret。 But “they should meet
again。 He would look for her—he would find her out before the
evening were over—and at present; perhaps; it was as well to be
asunder。 She was in need of a little interval for recollection。”
Upon Lady Russell’s appearance soon afterwards; the whole
party was collected; and all that remained was to marshal
themselves; and proceed into the Concert Room; and be of all the
consequence in their power; draw as many eyes; excite as many
whispers; and disturb as many people as they could。
Very; very happy were both Elizabeth and Anne Elliot as they
walked in。 Elizabeth arm in arm with Miss Carteret; and looking
on the broad back of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple before
her; had nothing to wish for which did not seem within her reach;
and Anne—but it would be an insult to the nature of Anne’s
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felicity; to draw any comparison between it and her sister’s; the
origin of one all selfish vanity; of the other all generous
attachment。
Anne saw nothing; thought nothing of the brilliancy of the
room。 Her happiness was from within。 Her eyes were bright and
her cheeks glowed;—but she knew nothing about it。 She was
thinking only of the last half hour; and as they passed to their
seats; her mind took a hasty range over it。 His choice of subjects;
his expressions; and still more his manner and look; had been
such as she could see in only one light。 His opinion of Louisa
Musgrove’s inferiority; an opinion which he had seemed solicitous
to give; his wonder at Captain Benwick; his feelings as to a first;
strong attachment;—sentences begun which he could not finish—
his half averted eyes and more than half expressive glance;—all;
all declared that he had a