Jane Austen 16 страница

He omitted no opportunity of being with them, threw himself in their way,

called at all hours; but I need not be particular on this subject.

You can imagine what an artful man would do; and with this guide,

perhaps, may recollect what you have seen him do."

 

"Yes," said Anne, "you tell me nothing which does not accord with

what I have known, or could imagine. There is always something offensive

in the details of cunning. The manoeuvres of selfishness and duplicity

must ever be revolting, but I have heard nothing which really surprises me.

I know those who would be shocked by such a representation of Mr Elliot,

who would have difficulty in believing it; but I have never been satisfied.

I have always wanted some other motive for his conduct than appeared.

I should like to know his present opinion, as to the probability

of the event he has been in dread of; whether he considers the danger

to be lessening or not."

 

"Lessening, I understand," replied Mrs Smith. "He thinks Mrs Clay

afraid of him, aware that he sees through her, and not daring to proceed

as she might do in his absence. But since he must be absent

some time or other, I do not perceive how he can ever be secure

while she holds her present influence. Mrs Wallis has an amusing idea,

as nurse tells me, that it is to be put into the marriage articles

when you and Mr Elliot marry, that your father is not to marry Mrs Clay.

A scheme, worthy of Mrs Wallis`s understanding, by all accounts;

but my sensible nurse Rooke sees the absurdity of it. `Why, to be sure,

ma`am,` said she, `it would not prevent his marrying anybody else.`

And, indeed, to own the truth, I do not think nurse, in her heart,

is a very strenuous opposer of Sir Walter`s making a second match.

She must be allowed to be a favourer of matrimony, you know;

and (since self will intrude) who can say that she may not have

some flying visions of attending the next Lady Elliot, through

Mrs Wallis`s recommendation?"

 

"I am very glad to know all this," said Anne, after a little

thoughtfulness. "It will be more painful to me in some respects

to be in company with him, but I shall know better what to do.

My line of conduct will be more direct. Mr Elliot is evidently

a disingenuous, artificial, worldly man, who has never had

any better principle to guide him than selfishness."

 

But Mr Elliot was not done with. Mrs Smith had been carried away

from her first direction, and Anne had forgotten, in the interest

of her own family concerns, how much had been originally implied

against him; but her attention was now called to the explanation

of those first hints, and she listened to a recital which,

if it did not perfectly justify the unqualified bitterness of Mrs Smith,

proved him to have been very unfeeling in his conduct towards her;

very deficient both in justice and compassion.

 

She learned that (the intimacy between them continuing unimpaired

by Mr Elliot`s marriage) they had been as before always together,

and Mr Elliot had led his friend into expenses much beyond his fortune.

Mrs Smith did not want to take blame to herself, and was most tender

of throwing any on her husband; but Anne could collect that their income

had never been equal to their style of living, and that from the first

there had been a great deal of general and joint extravagance.

From his wife`s account of him she could discern Mr Smith to have been

a man of warm feelings, easy temper, careless habits, and not strong

understanding, much more amiable than his friend, and very unlike him,

led by him, and probably despised by him. Mr Elliot, raised by

his marriage to great affluence, and disposed to every gratification

of pleasure and vanity which could be commanded without involving himself,

(for with all his self-indulgence he had become a prudent man),

and beginning to be rich, just as his friend ought to have found himself

to be poor, seemed to have had no concern at all for that friend`s

probable finances, but, on the contrary, had been prompting and

encouraging expenses which could end only in ruin; and the Smiths

accordingly had been ruined.

 

The husband had died just in time to be spared the full knowledge of it.

They had previously known embarrassments enough to try the friendship

of their friends, and to prove that Mr Elliot`s had better not be tried;

but it was not till his death that the wretched state of his affairs

was fully known. With a confidence in Mr Elliot`s regard,

more creditable to his feelings than his judgement, Mr Smith had

appointed him the executor of his will; but Mr Elliot would not act,

and the difficulties and distress which this refusal had heaped on her,

in addition to the inevitable sufferings of her situation, had been such

as could not be related without anguish of spirit, or listened to

without corresponding indignation.

 

Anne was shewn some letters of his on the occasion, answers to

urgent applications from Mrs Smith, which all breathed the same

stern resolution of not engaging in a fruitless trouble, and,

under a cold civility, the same hard-hearted indifference

to any of the evils it might bring on her. It was a dreadful picture

of ingratitude and inhumanity; and Anne felt, at some moments,

that no flagrant open crime could have been worse. She had a great deal

to listen to; all the particulars of past sad scenes, all the minutiae

of distress upon distress, which in former conversations had been

merely hinted at, were dwelt on now with a natural indulgence.

Anne could perfectly comprehend the exquisite relief, and was only

the more inclined to wonder at the composure of her friend`s

usual state of mind.

 

There was one circumstance in the history of her grievances

of particular irritation. She had good reason to believe

that some property of her husband in the West Indies, which had been

for many years under a sort of sequestration for the payment of

its own incumbrances, might be recoverable by proper measures;

and this property, though not large, would be enough to make her

comparatively rich. But there was nobody to stir in it.

Mr Elliot would do nothing, and she could do nothing herself,

equally disabled from personal exertion by her state of bodily weakness,

and from employing others by her want of money. She had no

natural connexions to assist her even with their counsel,

and she could not afford to purchase the assistance of the law.

This was a cruel aggravation of actually streightened means.

To feel that she ought to be in better circumstances, that a little trouble

in the right place might do it, and to fear that delay might be

even weakening her claims, was hard to bear.

 

It was on this point that she had hoped to engage Anne`s good offices

with Mr Elliot. She had previously, in the anticipation

of their marriage, been very apprehensive of losing her friend by it;

but on being assured that he could have made no attempt of that nature,

since he did not even know her to be in Bath, it immediately occurred,

that something might be done in her favour by the influence of the woman

he loved, and she had been hastily preparing to interest Anne`s feelings,

as far as the observances due to Mr Elliot`s character would allow,

when Anne`s refutation of the supposed engagement changed

the face of everything; and while it took from her the new-formed hope

of succeeding in the object of her first anxiety, left her at least

the comfort of telling the whole story her own way.

 

After listening to this full description of Mr Elliot, Anne could not but

express some surprise at Mrs Smith`s having spoken of him so favourably

in the beginning of their conversation. "She had seemed to recommend

and praise him!"

 

"My dear," was Mrs Smith`s reply, "there was nothing else to be done.

I considered your marrying him as certain, though he might not yet

have made the offer, and I could no more speak the truth of him,

than if he had been your husband. My heart bled for you,

as I talked of happiness; and yet he is sensible, he is agreeable,

and with such a woman as you, it was not absolutely hopeless.

He was very unkind to his first wife. They were wretched together.

But she was too ignorant and giddy for respect, and he had never loved her.

I was willing to hope that you must fare better."

 

Anne could just acknowledge within herself such a possibility

of having been induced to marry him, as made her shudder at the idea

of the misery which must have followed. It was just possible that

she might have been persuaded by Lady Russell! And under such

a supposition, which would have been most miserable, when time had

disclosed all, too late?

 

It was very desirable that Lady Russell should be no longer deceived;

and one of the concluding arrangements of this important conference,

which carried them through the greater part of the morning,

was, that Anne had full liberty to communicate to her friend

everything relative to Mrs Smith, in which his conduct was involved.

 

Chapter 22

 

 

Anne went home to think over all that she had heard. In one point,

her feelings were relieved by this knowledge of Mr Elliot.

There was no longer anything of tenderness due to him. He stood as

opposed to Captain Wentworth, in all his own unwelcome obtrusiveness;

and the evil of his attentions last night, the irremediable mischief

he might have done, was considered with sensations unqualified, unperplexed.

Pity for him was all over. But this was the only point of relief.

In every other respect, in looking around her, or penetrating forward,

she saw more to distrust and to apprehend. She was concerned

for the disappointment and pain Lady Russell would be feeling;

for the mortifications which must be hanging over her father and sister,

and had all the distress of foreseeing many evils, without knowing

how to avert any one of them. She was most thankful for her own

knowledge of him. She had never considered herself as entitled to reward

for not slighting an old friend like Mrs Smith, but here was

a reward indeed springing from it! Mrs Smith had been able to tell her

what no one else could have done. Could the knowledge have

been extended through her family? But this was a vain idea.

She must talk to Lady Russell, tell her, consult with her,

and having done her best, wait the event with as much composure

as possible; and after all, her greatest want of composure would be

in that quarter of the mind which could not be opened to Lady Russell;

in that flow of anxieties and fears which must be all to herself.

 

 

She found, on reaching home, that she had, as she intended,

escaped seeing Mr Elliot; that he had called and paid them

a long morning visit; but hardly had she congratulated herself,

and felt safe, when she heard that he was coming again in the evening.

 

"I had not the smallest intention of asking him," said Elizabeth,

with affected carelessness, "but he gave so many hints;

so Mrs Clay says, at least."

 

"Indeed, I do say it. I never saw anybody in my life spell harder

for an invitation. Poor man! I was really in pain for him;

for your hard-hearted sister, Miss Anne, seems bent on cruelty."

 

"Oh!" cried Elizabeth, "I have been rather too much used to the game

to be soon overcome by a gentleman`s hints. However, when I found

how excessively he was regretting that he should miss my father

this morning, I gave way immediately, for I would never really omit

an opportunity of bring him and Sir Walter together. They appear to

so much advantage in company with each other. Each behaving so pleasantly.

Mr Elliot looking up with so much respect."

 

"Quite delightful!" cried Mrs Clay, not daring, however,

to turn her eyes towards Anne. "Exactly like father and son!

Dear Miss Elliot, may I not say father and son?"

 

"Oh! I lay no embargo on any body`s words. If you will have such

ideas! But, upon my word, I am scarcely sensible of his attentions

being beyond those of other men."

 

"My dear Miss Elliot!" exclaimed Mrs Clay, lifting her hands and eyes,

and sinking all the rest of her astonishment in a convenient silence.

 

"Well, my dear Penelope, you need not be so alarmed about him.

I did invite him, you know. I sent him away with smiles.

When I found he was really going to his friends at Thornberry Park

for the whole day to-morrow, I had compassion on him."

 

Anne admired the good acting of the friend, in being able to shew

such pleasure as she did, in the expectation and in the actual arrival

of the very person whose presence must really be interfering with

her prime object. It was impossible but that Mrs Clay must hate

the sight of Mr Elliot; and yet she could assume a most obliging,

placid look, and appear quite satisfied with the curtailed license

of devoting herself only half as much to Sir Walter as she would have

done otherwise.

 

To Anne herself it was most distressing to see Mr Elliot enter the room;

and quite painful to have him approach and speak to her.

She had been used before to feel that he could not be always quite sincere,

but now she saw insincerity in everything. His attentive deference

to her father, contrasted with his former language, was odious;

and when she thought of his cruel conduct towards Mrs Smith,

she could hardly bear the sight of his present smiles and mildness,

or the sound of his artificial good sentiments.

 

She meant to avoid any such alteration of manners as might provoke

a remonstrance on his side. It was a great object to her to escape

all enquiry or eclat; but it was her intention to be as decidedly cool

to him as might be compatible with their relationship; and to retrace,

as quietly as she could, the few steps of unnecessary intimacy she had

been gradually led along. She was accordingly more guarded,

and more cool, than she had been the night before.

 

He wanted to animate her curiosity again as to how and where

he could have heard her formerly praised; wanted very much

to be gratified by more solicitation; but the charm was broken:

he found that the heat and animation of a public room was necessary

to kindle his modest cousin`s vanity; he found, at least, that it was

not to be done now, by any of those attempts which he could hazard

among the too-commanding claims of the others. He little surmised

that it was a subject acting now exactly against his interest,

bringing immediately to her thoughts all those parts of his conduct

which were least excusable.

 

She had some satisfaction in finding that he was really going out of Bath

the next morning, going early, and that he would be gone the greater part

of two days. He was invited again to Camden Place the very evening of

his return; but from Thursday to Saturday evening his absence was certain.

It was bad enough that a Mrs Clay should be always before her;

but that a deeper hypocrite should be added to their party,

seemed the destruction of everything like peace and comfort.

It was so humiliating to reflect on the constant deception practiced

on her father and Elizabeth; to consider the various sources

of mortification preparing for them! Mrs Clay`s selfishness was

not so complicate nor so revolting as his; and Anne would have compounded

for the marriage at once, with all its evils, to be clear of Mr Elliot`s

subtleties in endeavouring to prevent it.

 

On Friday morning she meant to go very early to Lady Russell,

and accomplish the necessary communication; and she would have gone

directly after breakfast, but that Mrs Clay was also going out

on some obliging purpose of saving her sister trouble, which

determined her to wait till she might be safe from such a companion.

She saw Mrs Clay fairly off, therefore, before she began to talk

of spending the morning in Rivers Street.

 

"Very well," said Elizabeth, "I have nothing to send but my love.

Oh! you may as well take back that tiresome book she would lend me,

and pretend I have read it through. I really cannot be plaguing myself

for ever with all the new poems and states of the nation that come out.

Lady Russell quite bores one with her new publications.

You need not tell her so, but I thought her dress hideous the other night.

I used to think she had some taste in dress, but I was ashamed of her

at the concert. Something so formal and arrange in her air!

and she sits so upright! My best love, of course."

 

"And mine," added Sir Walter. "Kindest regards. And you may say,

that I mean to call upon her soon. Make a civil message;

but I shall only leave my card. Morning visits are never fair

by women at her time of life, who make themselves up so little.

If she would only wear rouge she would not be afraid of being seen;

but last time I called, I observed the blinds were let down immediately."

 

While her father spoke, there was a knock at the door. Who could it be?

Anne, remembering the preconcerted visits, at all hours, of Mr Elliot,

would have expected him, but for his known engagement seven miles off.

After the usual period of suspense, the usual sounds of approach were heard,

and "Mr and Mrs Charles Musgrove" were ushered into the room.

 

Surprise was the strongest emotion raised by their appearance;

but Anne was really glad to see them; and the others were not so sorry

but that they could put on a decent air of welcome; and as soon

as it became clear that these, their nearest relations, were not arrived

with an views of accommodation in that house, Sir Walter and Elizabeth

were able to rise in cordiality, and do the honours of it very well.

They were come to Bath for a few days with Mrs Musgrove, and were

at the White Hart. So much was pretty soon understood;

but till Sir Walter and Elizabeth were walking Mary into

the other drawing-room, and regaling themselves with her admiration,

Anne could not draw upon Charles`s brain for a regular history

of their coming, or an explanation of some smiling hints

of particular business, which had been ostentatiously dropped by Mary,

as well as of some apparent confusion as to whom their party consisted of.

 

She then found that it consisted of Mrs Musgrove, Henrietta,

and Captain Harville, beside their two selves. He gave her a very plain,

intelligible account of the whole; a narration in which she saw

a great deal of most characteristic proceeding. The scheme

had received its first impulse by Captain Harville`s wanting to

come to Bath on business. He had begun to talk of it a week ago;

and by way of doing something, as shooting was over, Charles had proposed

coming with him, and Mrs Harville had seemed to like the idea of it

very much, as an advantage to her husband; but Mary could not bear

to be left, and had made herself so unhappy about it, that for a day or two

everything seemed to be in suspense, or at an end. But then,

it had been taken up by his father and mother. His mother had

some old friends in Bath whom she wanted to see; it was thought

a good opportunity for Henrietta to come and buy wedding-clothes

for herself and her sister; and, in short, it ended in being

his mother`s party, that everything might be comfortable and easy

to Captain Harville; and he and Mary were included in it

by way of general convenience. They had arrived late the night before.

Mrs Harville, her children, and Captain Benwick, remained with

Mr Musgrove and Louisa at Uppercross.

 

Anne`s only surprise was, that affairs should be in forwardness enough

for Henrietta`s wedding-clothes to be talked of. She had imagined

such difficulties of fortune to exist there as must prevent

the marriage from being near at hand; but she learned from Charles that,

very recently, (since Mary`s last letter to herself), Charles Hayter

had been applied to by a friend to hold a living for a youth

who could not possibly claim it under many years; and that

on the strength of his present income, with almost a certainty

of something more permanent long before the term in question,

the two families had consented to the young people`s wishes,

and that their marriage was likely to take place in a few months,

quite as soon as Louisa`s. "And a very good living it was,"

Charles added: "only five-and-twenty miles from Uppercross,

and in a very fine country: fine part of Dorsetshire.

In the centre of some of the best preserves in the kingdom,

surrounded by three great proprietors, each more careful and jealous

than the other; and to two of the three at least, Charles Hayter might get

a special recommendation. Not that he will value it as he ought,"

he observed, "Charles is too cool about sporting. That`s the worst of him."

 

"I am extremely glad, indeed," cried Anne, "particularly glad

that this should happen; and that of two sisters, who both deserve

equally well, and who have always been such good friends,

the pleasant prospect of one should not be dimming those of the other--

that they should be so equal in their prosperity and comfort.

I hope your father and mother are quite happy with regard to both."

 

"Oh! yes. My father would be well pleased if the gentlemen were richer,

but he has no other fault to find. Money, you know, coming down with

money--two daughters at once--it cannot be a very agreeable operation,

and it streightens him as to many things. However, I do not mean to say

they have not a right to it. It is very fit they should have

daughters` shares; and I am sure he has always been a very kind,

liberal father to me. Mary does not above half like Henrietta`s match.

She never did, you know. But she does not do him justice,

nor think enough about Winthrop. I cannot make her attend to

the value of the property. It is a very fair match, as times go;

and I have liked Charles Hayter all my life, and I shall not leave off now."

 

"Such excellent parents as Mr and Mrs Musgrove," exclaimed Anne,

"should be happy in their children`s marriages. They do everything

to confer happiness, I am sure. What a blessing to young people

to be in such hands! Your father and mother seem so totally free

from all those ambitious feelings which have led to so much misconduct

and misery, both in young and old. I hope you think Louisa

perfectly recovered now?"

 

He answered rather hesitatingly, "Yes, I believe I do; very much recovered;

but she is altered; there is no running or jumping about, no laughing

or dancing; it is quite different. If one happens only to shut the door

a little hard, she starts and wriggles like a young dab-chick in the water;

and Benwick sits at her elbow, reading verses, or whispering to her,

all day long."

 

Anne could not help laughing. "That cannot be much to your taste,

I know," said she; "but I do believe him to be an excellent young man."

 

"To be sure he is. Nobody doubts it; and I hope you do not think

I am so illiberal as to want every man to have the same objects and

pleasures as myself. I have a great value for Benwick; and when one can

but get him to talk, he has plenty to say. His reading has done him

no harm, for he has fought as well as read. He is a brave fellow.

I got more acquainted with him last Monday than ever I did before.

We had a famous set-to at rat-hunting all the morning in

my father`s great barns; and he played his part so well

that I have liked him the better ever since."

 

Here they were interrupted by the absolute necessity of Charles`s

following the others to admire mirrors and china; but Anne had

heard enough to understand the present state of Uppercross,

and rejoice in its happiness; and though she sighed as she rejoiced,

her sigh had none of the ill-will of envy in it. She would certainly

have risen to their blessings if she could, but she did not want

to lessen theirs.

 

The visit passed off altogether in high good humour. Mary was

in excellent spirits, enjoying the gaiety and the change,

and so well satisfied with the journey in her mother-in-law`s carriage

with four horses, and with her own complete independence of Camden Place,

that she was exactly in a temper to admire everything as she ought,

and enter most readily into all the superiorities of the house,

as they were detailed to her. She had no demands on her father or sister,

and her consequence was just enough increased by their handsome

drawing-rooms.

 

Elizabeth was, for a short time, suffering a good deal.

She felt that Mrs Musgrove and all her party ought to be asked

to dine with them; but she could not bear to have the difference of style,

the reduction of servants, which a dinner must betray, witnessed by those

who had been always so inferior to the Elliots of Kellynch.

It was a struggle between propriety and vanity; but vanity got the better,

and then Elizabeth was happy again. These were her internal persuasions:

"Old fashioned notions; country hospitality; we do not profess

to give dinners; few people in Bath do; Lady Alicia never does;

did not even ask her own sister`s family, though they were here a month:

and I dare say it would be very inconvenient to Mrs Musgrove;

put her quite out of her way. I am sure she would rather not come;

she cannot feel easy with us. I will ask them all for an evening;

that will be much better; that will be a novelty and a treat.

They have not seen two such drawing rooms before. They will be delighted

to come to-morrow evening. It shall be a regular party, small,

but most elegant." And this satisfied Elizabeth: and when the invitation

was given to the two present, and promised for the absent,

Mary was as completely satisfied. She was particularly asked

to meet Mr Elliot, and be introduced to Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret,

who were fortunately already engaged to come; and she could not

have received a more gratifying attention. Miss Elliot was to have