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Jane Austen 17 страница






the honour of calling on Mrs Musgrove in the course of the morning;

and Anne walked off with Charles and Mary, to go and see her

and Henrietta directly.

 

Her plan of sitting with Lady Russell must give way for the present.

They all three called in Rivers Street for a couple of minutes;

but Anne convinced herself that a day`s delay of the intended communication

could be of no consequence, and hastened forward to the White Hart,

to see again the friends and companions of the last autumn,

with an eagerness of good-will which many associations contributed to form.

 

They found Mrs Musgrove and her daughter within, and by themselves,

and Anne had the kindest welcome from each. Henrietta was exactly

in that state of recently-improved views, of fresh-formed happiness,

which made her full of regard and interest for everybody she had

ever liked before at all; and Mrs Musgrove`s real affection had been won

by her usefulness when they were in distress. It was a heartiness,

and a warmth, and a sincerity which Anne delighted in the more,

from the sad want of such blessings at home. She was entreated

to give them as much of her time as possible, invited for every day

and all day long, or rather claimed as part of the family; and, in return,

she naturally fell into all her wonted ways of attention and assistance,

and on Charles`s leaving them together, was listening to Mrs Musgrove`s

history of Louisa, and to Henrietta`s of herself, giving opinions

on business, and recommendations to shops; with intervals of every help

which Mary required, from altering her ribbon to settling her accounts;

from finding her keys, and assorting her trinkets, to trying

to convince her that she was not ill-used by anybody; which Mary,

well amused as she generally was, in her station at a window

overlooking the entrance to the Pump Room, could not but have

her moments of imagining.

 

A morning of thorough confusion was to be expected. A large party

in an hotel ensured a quick-changing, unsettled scene. One five minutes

brought a note, the next a parcel; and Anne had not been there

half an hour, when their dining-room, spacious as it was,

seemed more than half filled: a party of steady old friends

were seated around Mrs Musgrove, and Charles came back with

Captains Harville and Wentworth. The appearance of the latter

could not be more than the surprise of the moment. It was impossible

for her to have forgotten to feel that this arrival of their

common friends must be soon bringing them together again.

Their last meeting had been most important in opening his feelings;

she had derived from it a delightful conviction; but she feared

from his looks, that the same unfortunate persuasion, which had

hastened him away from the Concert Room, still governed.

He did not seem to want to be near enough for conversation.

 

She tried to be calm, and leave things to take their course,

and tried to dwell much on this argument of rational dependence:--

"Surely, if there be constant attachment on each side, our hearts

must understand each other ere long. We are not boy and girl,

to be captiously irritable, misled by every moment`s inadvertence,

and wantonly playing with our own happiness." And yet,

a few minutes afterwards, she felt as if their being in company

with each other, under their present circumstances, could only be

exposing them to inadvertencies and misconstructions of the most

mischievous kind.

 

"Anne," cried Mary, still at her window, "there is Mrs Clay,

I am sure, standing under the colonnade, and a gentleman with her.

I saw them turn the corner from Bath Street just now. They seemed

deep in talk. Who is it? Come, and tell me. Good heavens! I recollect.

It is Mr Elliot himself."

 

"No," cried Anne, quickly, "it cannot be Mr Elliot, I assure you.

He was to leave Bath at nine this morning, and does not come back

till to-morrow."

 

As she spoke, she felt that Captain Wentworth was looking at her,

the consciousness of which vexed and embarrassed her, and made her regret

that she had said so much, simple as it was.

 

Mary, resenting that she should be supposed not to know her own cousin,

began talking very warmly about the family features, and protesting

still more positively that it was Mr Elliot, calling again upon Anne

to come and look for herself, but Anne did not mean to stir,

and tried to be cool and unconcerned. Her distress returned,

however, on perceiving smiles and intelligent glances pass between

two or three of the lady visitors, as if they believed themselves

quite in the secret. It was evident that the report concerning her

had spread, and a short pause succeeded, which seemed to ensure

that it would now spread farther.

 

"Do come, Anne" cried Mary, "come and look yourself. You will be too late

if you do not make haste. They are parting; they are shaking hands.

He is turning away. Not know Mr Elliot, indeed! You seem to have

forgot all about Lyme."

 

To pacify Mary, and perhaps screen her own embarrassment,

Anne did move quietly to the window. She was just in time to ascertain

that it really was Mr Elliot, which she had never believed,

before he disappeared on one side, as Mrs Clay walked quickly off

on the other; and checking the surprise which she could not but feel

at such an appearance of friendly conference between two persons

of totally opposite interest, she calmly said, "Yes, it is Mr Elliot,

certainly. He has changed his hour of going, I suppose, that is all,

or I may be mistaken, I might not attend;" and walked back to her chair,

recomposed, and with the comfortable hope of having acquitted herself well.

 

The visitors took their leave; and Charles, having civilly seen them off,

and then made a face at them, and abused them for coming, began with--

 

"Well, mother, I have done something for you that you will like.

I have been to the theatre, and secured a box for to-morrow night.

A`n`t I a good boy? I know you love a play; and there is room for us all.

It holds nine. I have engaged Captain Wentworth. Anne will

not be sorry to join us, I am sure. We all like a play.

Have not I done well, mother?"

 

Mrs Musgrove was good humouredly beginning to express her perfect readiness

for the play, if Henrietta and all the others liked it, when Mary

eagerly interrupted her by exclaiming--

 

"Good heavens, Charles! how can you think of such a thing?

Take a box for to-morrow night! Have you forgot that we are engaged

to Camden Place to-morrow night? and that we were most particularly asked

to meet Lady Dalrymple and her daughter, and Mr Elliot, and all

the principal family connexions, on purpose to be introduced to them?

How can you be so forgetful?"

 

"Phoo! phoo!" replied Charles, "what`s an evening party?

Never worth remembering. Your father might have asked us to dinner,

I think, if he had wanted to see us. You may do as you like,

but I shall go to the play."

 

"Oh! Charles, I declare it will be too abominable if you do,

when you promised to go."

 

"No, I did not promise. I only smirked and bowed, and said the word

`happy.` There was no promise."

 

"But you must go, Charles. It would be unpardonable to fail.

We were asked on purpose to be introduced. There was always

such a great connexion between the Dalrymples and ourselves.

Nothing ever happened on either side that was not announced immediately.

We are quite near relations, you know; and Mr Elliot too,

whom you ought so particularly to be acquainted with! Every attention

is due to Mr Elliot. Consider, my father`s heir: the future

representative of the family."

 

"Don`t talk to me about heirs and representatives," cried Charles.

"I am not one of those who neglect the reigning power to bow

to the rising sun. If I would not go for the sake of your father,

I should think it scandalous to go for the sake of his heir.

What is Mr Elliot to me?" The careless expression was life to Anne,

who saw that Captain Wentworth was all attention, looking and

listening with his whole soul; and that the last words brought

his enquiring eyes from Charles to herself.

 

Charles and Mary still talked on in the same style; he, half serious

and half jesting, maintaining the scheme for the play, and she,

invariably serious, most warmly opposing it, and not omitting

to make it known that, however determined to go to Camden Place herself,

she should not think herself very well used, if they went to the play

without her. Mrs Musgrove interposed.

 

"We had better put it off. Charles, you had much better go back

and change the box for Tuesday. It would be a pity to be divided,

and we should be losing Miss Anne, too, if there is a party at her father`s;

and I am sure neither Henrietta nor I should care at all for the play,

if Miss Anne could not be with us."

 

Anne felt truly obliged to her for such kindness; and quite as much

so for the opportunity it gave her of decidedly saying--

 

"If it depended only on my inclination, ma`am, the party at home

(excepting on Mary`s account) would not be the smallest impediment.

I have no pleasure in the sort of meeting, and should be too happy

to change it for a play, and with you. But, it had better

not be attempted, perhaps." She had spoken it; but she trembled

when it was done, conscious that her words were listened to,

and daring not even to try to observe their effect.

 

It was soon generally agreed that Tuesday should be the day;

Charles only reserving the advantage of still teasing his wife,

by persisting that he would go to the play to-morrow if nobody else would.

 

Captain Wentworth left his seat, and walked to the fire-place;

probably for the sake of walking away from it soon afterwards,

and taking a station, with less bare-faced design, by Anne.

 

"You have not been long enough in Bath," said he, "to enjoy

the evening parties of the place."

 

"Oh! no. The usual character of them has nothing for me.

I am no card-player."

 

"You were not formerly, I know. You did not use to like cards;

but time makes many changes."

 

"I am not yet so much changed," cried Anne, and stopped, fearing she

hardly knew what misconstruction. After waiting a few moments

he said, and as if it were the result of immediate feeling,

"It is a period, indeed! Eight years and a half is a period."

 

Whether he would have proceeded farther was left to Anne`s imagination

to ponder over in a calmer hour; for while still hearing the sounds

he had uttered, she was startled to other subjects by Henrietta,

eager to make use of the present leisure for getting out,

and calling on her companions to lose no time, lest somebody else

should come in.

 

They were obliged to move. Anne talked of being perfectly ready,

and tried to look it; but she felt that could Henrietta have known

the regret and reluctance of her heart in quitting that chair,

in preparing to quit the room, she would have found, in all her own

sensations for her cousin, in the very security of his affection,

wherewith to pity her.

 

Their preparations, however, were stopped short. Alarming sounds

were heard; other visitors approached, and the door was thrown open

for Sir Walter and Miss Elliot, whose entrance seemed to give

a general chill. Anne felt an instant oppression, and wherever she looked

saw symptoms of the same. The comfort, the freedom, the gaiety

of the room was over, hushed into cold composure, determined silence,

or insipid talk, to meet the heartless elegance of her father and sister.

How mortifying to feel that it was so!

 

Her jealous eye was satisfied in one particular. Captain Wentworth

was acknowledged again by each, by Elizabeth more graciously than before.

She even addressed him once, and looked at him more than once.

Elizabeth was, in fact, revolving a great measure. The sequel

explained it. After the waste of a few minutes in saying

the proper nothings, she began to give the invitation which

was to comprise all the remaining dues of the Musgroves.

"To-morrow evening, to meet a few friends: no formal party."

It was all said very gracefully, and the cards with which she had

provided herself, the "Miss Elliot at home," were laid on the table,

with a courteous, comprehensive smile to all, and one smile and

one card more decidedly for Captain Wentworth. The truth was,

that Elizabeth had been long enough in Bath to understand

the importance of a man of such an air and appearance as his.

The past was nothing. The present was that Captain Wentworth

would move about well in her drawing-room. The card was pointedly given,

and Sir Walter and Elizabeth arose and disappeared.

 

The interruption had been short, though severe, and ease and animation

returned to most of those they left as the door shut them out,

but not to Anne. She could think only of the invitation she had

with such astonishment witnessed, and of the manner in which

it had been received; a manner of doubtful meaning, of surprise rather

than gratification, of polite acknowledgement rather than acceptance.

She knew him; she saw disdain in his eye, and could not venture to believe

that he had determined to accept such an offering, as an atonement

for all the insolence of the past. Her spirits sank. He held the card

in his hand after they were gone, as if deeply considering it.

 

"Only think of Elizabeth`s including everybody!" whispered Mary

very audibly. "I do not wonder Captain Wentworth is delighted!

You see he cannot put the card out of his hand."

 

Anne caught his eye, saw his cheeks glow, and his mouth form itself

into a momentary expression of contempt, and turned away,

that she might neither see nor hear more to vex her.

 

The party separated. The gentlemen had their own pursuits,

the ladies proceeded on their own business, and they met no more while

Anne belonged to them. She was earnestly begged to return and dine,

and give them all the rest of the day, but her spirits had been

so long exerted that at present she felt unequal to more,

and fit only for home, where she might be sure of being as silent

as she chose.

 

Promising to be with them the whole of the following morning, therefore,

she closed the fatigues of the present by a toilsome walk to Camden Place,

there to spend the evening chiefly in listening to the busy arrangements

of Elizabeth and Mrs Clay for the morrow`s party, the frequent enumeration

of the persons invited, and the continually improving detail of all

the embellishments which were to make it the most completely elegant

of its kind in Bath, while harassing herself with the never-ending

question, of whether Captain Wentworth would come or not? They were

reckoning him as certain, but with her it was a gnawing solicitude

never appeased for five minutes together. She generally thought

he would come, because she generally thought he ought; but it was a case

which she could not so shape into any positive act of duty or discretion,

as inevitably to defy the suggestions of very opposite feelings.

 

She only roused herself from the broodings of this restless agitation,

to let Mrs Clay know that she had been seen with Mr Elliot

three hours after his being supposed to be out of Bath,

for having watched in vain for some intimation of the interview

from the lady herself, she determined to mention it, and it seemed to her

there was guilt in Mrs Clay`s face as she listened. It was transient:

cleared away in an instant; but Anne could imagine she read there

the consciousness of having, by some complication of mutual trick,

or some overbearing authority of his, been obliged to attend

(perhaps for half an hour) to his lectures and restrictions on her designs

on Sir Walter. She exclaimed, however, with a very tolerable

imitation of nature: --

 

"Oh! dear! very true. Only think, Miss Elliot, to my great surprise

I met with Mr Elliot in Bath Street. I was never more astonished.

He turned back and walked with me to the Pump Yard. He had been prevented

setting off for Thornberry, but I really forget by what;

for I was in a hurry, and could not much attend, and I can only answer

for his being determined not to be delayed in his return.

He wanted to know how early he might be admitted to-morrow.

He was full of `to-morrow,` and it is very evident that I have been

full of it too, ever since I entered the house, and learnt the extension

of your plan and all that had happened, or my seeing him could never have

gone so entirely out of my head."

 

Chapter 23

 

 

One day only had passed since Anne`s conversation with Mrs Smith;

but a keener interest had succeeded, and she was now so little touched

by Mr Elliot`s conduct, except by its effects in one quarter,

that it became a matter of course the next morning, still to defer

her explanatory visit in Rivers Street. She had promised to be

with the Musgroves from breakfast to dinner. Her faith was plighted,

and Mr Elliot`s character, like the Sultaness Scheherazade`s head,

must live another day.

 

She could not keep her appointment punctually, however;

the weather was unfavourable, and she had grieved over the rain

on her friends` account, and felt it very much on her own,

before she was able to attempt the walk. When she reached the White Hart,

and made her way to the proper apartment, she found herself

neither arriving quite in time, nor the first to arrive.

The party before her were, Mrs Musgrove, talking to Mrs Croft,

and Captain Harville to Captain Wentworth; and she immediately heard

that Mary and Henrietta, too impatient to wait, had gone out the moment

it had cleared, but would be back again soon, and that the strictest

injunctions had been left with Mrs Musgrove to keep her there

till they returned. She had only to submit, sit down,

be outwardly composed, and feel herself plunged at once

in all the agitations which she had merely laid her account of

tasting a little before the morning closed. There was no delay,

no waste of time. She was deep in the happiness of such misery,

or the misery of such happiness, instantly. Two minutes after

her entering the room, Captain Wentworth said--

 

"We will write the letter we were talking of, Harville, now,

if you will give me materials."

 

Materials were at hand, on a separate table; he went to it,

and nearly turning his back to them all, was engrossed by writing.

 

Mrs Musgrove was giving Mrs Croft the history of her eldest

daughter`s engagement, and just in that inconvenient tone of voice

which was perfectly audible while it pretended to be a whisper.

Anne felt that she did not belong to the conversation, and yet,

as Captain Harville seemed thoughtful and not disposed to talk,

she could not avoid hearing many undesirable particulars; such as,

"how Mr Musgrove and my brother Hayter had met again and again

to talk it over; what my brother Hayter had said one day,

and what Mr Musgrove had proposed the next, and what had occurred

to my sister Hayter, and what the young people had wished, and what

I said at first I never could consent to, but was afterwards persuaded

to think might do very well," and a great deal in the same style

of open-hearted communication: minutiae which, even with every advantage

of taste and delicacy, which good Mrs Musgrove could not give,

could be properly interesting only to the principals. Mrs Croft

was attending with great good-humour, and whenever she spoke at all,

it was very sensibly. Anne hoped the gentlemen might each be

too much self-occupied to hear.

 

"And so, ma`am, all these thing considered," said Mrs Musgrove,

in her powerful whisper, "though we could have wished it different,

yet, altogether, we did not think it fair to stand out any longer,

for Charles Hayter was quite wild about it, and Henrietta was

pretty near as bad; and so we thought they had better marry at once,

and make the best of it, as many others have done before them.

At any rate, said I, it will be better than a long engagement."

 

"That is precisely what I was going to observe," cried Mrs Croft.

"I would rather have young people settle on a small income at once,

and have to struggle with a few difficulties together, than be

involved in a long engagement. I always think that no mutual--"

 

"Oh! dear Mrs Croft," cried Mrs Musgrove, unable to let her

finish her speech, "there is nothing I so abominate for young people

as a long engagement. It is what I always protested against

for my children. It is all very well, I used to say, for young people

to be engaged, if there is a certainty of their being able to marry

in six months, or even in twelve; but a long engagement--"

 

"Yes, dear ma`am," said Mrs Croft, "or an uncertain engagement,

an engagement which may be long. To begin without knowing

that at such a time there will be the means of marrying,

I hold to be very unsafe and unwise, and what I think all parents

should prevent as far as they can."

 

Anne found an unexpected interest here. She felt its application

to herself, felt it in a nervous thrill all over her; and at the same

moment that her eyes instinctively glanced towards the distant table,

Captain Wentworth`s pen ceased to move, his head was raised, pausing,

listening, and he turned round the next instant to give a look,

one quick, conscious look at her.

 

The two ladies continued to talk, to re-urge the same admitted truths,

and enforce them with such examples of the ill effect of

a contrary practice as had fallen within their observation,

but Anne heard nothing distinctly; it was only a buzz of words in her ear,

her mind was in confusion.

 

Captain Harville, who had in truth been hearing none of it,

now left his seat, and moved to a window, and Anne seeming to watch him,

though it was from thorough absence of mind, became gradually sensible

that he was inviting her to join him where he stood. He looked at her

with a smile, and a little motion of the head, which expressed,

"Come to me, I have something to say;" and the unaffected,

easy kindness of manner which denoted the feelings of an older acquaintance

than he really was, strongly enforced the invitation. She roused herself

and went to him. The window at which he stood was at the other end

of the room from where the two ladies were sitting, and though nearer

to Captain Wentworth`s table, not very near. As she joined him,

Captain Harville`s countenance re-assumed the serious, thoughtful

expression which seemed its natural character.

 

"Look here," said he, unfolding a parcel in his hand, and displaying

a small miniature painting, "do you know who that is?"

 

"Certainly: Captain Benwick."

 

"Yes, and you may guess who it is for. But," (in a deep tone,)

"it was not done for her. Miss Elliot, do you remember our

walking together at Lyme, and grieving for him? I little thought then--

but no matter. This was drawn at the Cape. He met with

a clever young German artist at the Cape, and in compliance with a promise

to my poor sister, sat to him, and was bringing it home for her;

and I have now the charge of getting it properly set for another!

It was a commission to me! But who else was there to employ?

I hope I can allow for him. I am not sorry, indeed, to make it

over to another. He undertakes it;" (looking towards Captain Wentworth,)

"he is writing about it now." And with a quivering lip he wound up

the whole by adding, "Poor Fanny! she would not have forgotten him so soon!"

 

"No," replied Anne, in a low, feeling voice. "That I can easily believe."

 

"It was not in her nature. She doted on him."

 

"It would not be the nature of any woman who truly loved."

 

Captain Harville smiled, as much as to say, "Do you claim that

for your sex?" and she answered the question, smiling also,

"Yes. We certainly do not forget you as soon as you forget us.

It is, perhaps, our fate rather than our merit. We cannot help ourselves.

We live at home, quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us.

You are forced on exertion. You have always a profession, pursuits,

business of some sort or other, to take you back into the world immediately,

and continual occupation and change soon weaken impressions."

 

"Granting your assertion that the world does all this so soon for men

(which, however, I do not think I shall grant), it does not apply

to Benwick. He has not been forced upon any exertion. The peace

turned him on shore at the very moment, and he has been living with us,

in our little family circle, ever since."

 

"True," said Anne, "very true; I did not recollect; but what shall

we say now, Captain Harville? If the change be not from

outward circumstances, it must be from within; it must be nature,

man`s nature, which has done the business for Captain Benwick."

 

"No, no, it is not man`s nature. I will not allow it to be more

man`s nature than woman`s to be inconstant and forget those they do love,

or have loved. I believe the reverse. I believe in a true analogy

between our bodily frames and our mental; and that as our bodies are

the strongest, so are our feelings; capable of bearing most rough usage,

and riding out the heaviest weather."

 

"Your feelings may be the strongest," replied Anne, "but the same spirit







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