《劝导——Persuasion》中英文对照 完结_派派后花园

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[Novel] 《劝导——Persuasion》中英文对照 完结

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一二三四五六七~~~
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Chapter Nineteen

While Admiral Croft was taking this walk with Anne, and expressing his
wish of getting Captain Wentworth to Bath, Captain Wentworth was
already on his way thither.  Before Mrs Croft had written, he was
arrived, and the very next time Anne walked out, she saw him.

Mr Elliot was attending his two cousins and Mrs Clay.  They were in
Milsom Street.  It began to rain, not much, but enough to make shelter
desirable for women, and quite enough to make it very desirable for
Miss Elliot to have the advantage of being conveyed home in Lady
Dalrymple's carriage, which was seen waiting at a little distance; she,
Anne, and Mrs Clay, therefore, turned into Molland's, while Mr Elliot
stepped to Lady Dalrymple, to request her assistance.  He soon joined
them again, successful, of course; Lady Dalrymple would be most happy
to take them home, and would call for them in a few minutes.

Her ladyship's carriage was a barouche, and did not hold more than four
with any comfort.  Miss Carteret was with her mother; consequently it
was not reasonable to expect accommodation for all the three Camden
Place ladies.  There could be no doubt as to Miss Elliot.  Whoever
suffered inconvenience, she must suffer none, but it occupied a little
time to settle the point of civility between the other two.  The rain
was a mere trifle, and Anne was most sincere in preferring a walk with
Mr Elliot.  But the rain was also a mere trifle to Mrs Clay; she would
hardly allow it even to drop at all, and her boots were so thick! much
thicker than Miss Anne's; and, in short, her civility rendered her
quite as anxious to be left to walk with Mr Elliot as Anne could be,
and it was discussed between them with a generosity so polite and so
determined, that the others were obliged to settle it for them; Miss
Elliot maintaining that Mrs Clay had a little cold already, and Mr
Elliot deciding on appeal, that his cousin Anne's boots were rather the
thickest.

It was fixed accordingly, that Mrs Clay should be of the party in the
carriage; and they had just reached this point, when Anne, as she sat
near the window, descried, most decidedly and distinctly, Captain
Wentworth walking down the street.

Her start was perceptible only to herself; but she instantly felt that
she was the greatest simpleton in the world, the most unaccountable and
absurd!  For a few minutes she saw nothing before her; it was all
confusion.  She was lost, and when she had scolded back her senses, she
found the others still waiting for the carriage, and Mr Elliot (always
obliging) just setting off for Union Street on a commission of Mrs
Clay's.

She now felt a great inclination to go to the outer door; she wanted to
see if it rained.  Why was she to suspect herself of another motive?
Captain Wentworth must be out of sight.  She left her seat, she would
go; one half of her should not be always so much wiser than the other
half, or always suspecting the other of being worse than it was.  She
would see if it rained.  She was sent back, however, in a moment by the
entrance of Captain Wentworth himself, among a party of gentlemen and
ladies, evidently his acquaintance, and whom he must have joined a
little below Milsom Street.  He was more obviously struck and confused
by the sight of her than she had ever observed before; he looked quite
red.  For the first time, since their renewed acquaintance, she felt
that she was betraying the least sensibility of the two.  She had the
advantage of him in the preparation of the last few moments.  All the
overpowering, blinding, bewildering, first effects of strong surprise
were over with her.  Still, however, she had enough to feel!  It was
agitation, pain, pleasure, a something between delight and misery.

He spoke to her, and then turned away.  The character of his manner was
embarrassment.  She could not have called it either cold or friendly,
or anything so certainly as embarrassed.

After a short interval, however, he came towards her, and spoke again.
Mutual enquiries on common subjects passed:  neither of them, probably,
much the wiser for what they heard, and Anne continuing fully sensible
of his being less at ease than formerly.  They had by dint of being so
very much together, got to speak to each other with a considerable
portion of apparent indifference and calmness; but he could not do it
now.  Time had changed him, or Louisa had changed him.  There was
consciousness of some sort or other.  He looked very well, not as if he
had been suffering in health or spirits, and he talked of Uppercross,
of the Musgroves, nay, even of Louisa, and had even a momentary look of
his own arch significance as he named her; but yet it was Captain
Wentworth not comfortable, not easy, not able to feign that he was.

It did not surprise, but it grieved Anne to observe that Elizabeth
would not know him.  She saw that he saw Elizabeth, that Elizabeth saw
him, that there was complete internal recognition on each side; she was
convinced that he was ready to be acknowledged as an acquaintance,
expecting it, and she had the pain of seeing her sister turn away with
unalterable coldness.

Lady Dalrymple's carriage, for which Miss Elliot was growing very
impatient, now drew up; the servant came in to announce it.  It was
beginning to rain again, and altogether there was a delay, and a
bustle, and a talking, which must make all the little crowd in the shop
understand that Lady Dalrymple was calling to convey Miss Elliot.  At
last Miss Elliot and her friend, unattended but by the servant, (for
there was no cousin returned), were walking off; and Captain Wentworth,
watching them, turned again to Anne, and by manner, rather than words,
was offering his services to her.

"I am much obliged to you," was her answer, "but I am not going with
them.  The carriage would not accommodate so many.  I walk:  I prefer
walking."

"But it rains."

"Oh! very little,  Nothing that I regard."

After a moment's pause he said:  "Though I came only yesterday, I have
equipped myself properly for Bath already, you see," (pointing to a new
umbrella); "I wish you would make use of it, if you are determined to
walk; though I think it would be more prudent to let me get you a
chair."

She was very much obliged to him, but declined it all, repeating her
conviction, that the rain would come to nothing at present, and adding,
"I am only waiting for Mr Elliot.  He will be here in a moment, I am
sure."

She had hardly spoken the words when Mr Elliot walked in.  Captain
Wentworth recollected him perfectly.  There was no difference between
him and the man who had stood on the steps at Lyme, admiring Anne as
she passed, except in the air and look and manner of the privileged
relation and friend.  He came in with eagerness, appeared to see and
think only of her, apologised for his stay, was grieved to have kept
her waiting, and anxious to get her away without further loss of time
and before the rain increased; and in another moment they walked off
together, her arm under his, a gentle and embarrassed glance, and a
"Good morning to you!" being all that she had time for, as she passed
away.

As soon as they were out of sight, the ladies of Captain Wentworth's
party began talking of them.

"Mr Elliot does not dislike his cousin, I fancy?"

"Oh! no, that is clear enough.  One can guess what will happen there.
He is always with them; half lives in the family, I believe.  What a
very good-looking man!"

"Yes, and Miss Atkinson, who dined with him once at the Wallises, says
he is the most agreeable man she ever was in company with."

"She is pretty, I think; Anne Elliot; very pretty, when one comes to
look at her.  It is not the fashion to say so, but I confess I admire
her more than her sister."

"Oh! so do I."

"And so do I.  No comparison.  But the men are all wild after Miss
Elliot.  Anne is too delicate for them."

Anne would have been particularly obliged to her cousin, if he would
have walked by her side all the way to Camden Place, without saying a
word.  She had never found it so difficult to listen to him, though
nothing could exceed his solicitude and care, and though his subjects
were principally such as were wont to be always interesting: praise,
warm, just, and discriminating, of Lady Russell, and insinuations
highly rational against Mrs Clay.  But just now she could think only of
Captain Wentworth.  She could not understand his present feelings,
whether he were really suffering much from disappointment or not; and
till that point were settled, she could not be quite herself.

She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! alas!  she must
confess to herself that she was not wise yet.

Another circumstance very essential for her to know, was how long he
meant to be in Bath; he had not mentioned it, or she could not
recollect it.  He might be only passing through.  But it was more
probable that he should be come to stay.  In that case, so liable as
every body was to meet every body in Bath, Lady Russell would in all
likelihood see him somewhere.  Would she recollect him?  How would it
all be?

She had already been obliged to tell Lady Russell that Louisa Musgrove
was to marry Captain Benwick.  It had cost her something to encounter
Lady Russell's surprise; and now, if she were by any chance to be
thrown into company with Captain Wentworth, her imperfect knowledge of
the matter might add another shade of prejudice against him.

The following morning Anne was out with her friend, and for the first
hour, in an incessant and fearful sort of watch for him in vain; but at
last, in returning down Pulteney Street, she distinguished him on the
right hand pavement at such a distance as to have him in view the
greater part of the street.  There were many other men about him, many
groups walking the same way, but there was no mistaking him.  She
looked instinctively at Lady Russell; but not from any mad idea of her
recognising him so soon as she did herself.  No, it was not to be
supposed that Lady Russell would perceive him till they were nearly
opposite.  She looked at her however, from time to time, anxiously; and
when the moment approached which must point him out, though not daring
to look again (for her own countenance she knew was unfit to be seen),
she was yet perfectly conscious of Lady Russell's eyes being turned
exactly in the direction for him--of her being, in short, intently
observing him.  She could thoroughly comprehend the sort of fascination
he must possess over Lady Russell's mind, the difficulty it must be for
her to withdraw her eyes, the astonishment she must be feeling that
eight or nine years should have passed over him, and in foreign climes
and in active service too, without robbing him of one personal grace!

At last, Lady Russell drew back her head.  "Now, how would she speak of
him?"

"You will wonder," said she, "what has been fixing my eye so long; but
I was looking after some window-curtains, which Lady Alicia and Mrs
Frankland were telling me of last night.  They described the
drawing-room window-curtains of one of the houses on this side of the
way, and this part of the street, as being the handsomest and best hung
of any in Bath, but could not recollect the exact number, and I have
been trying to find out which it could be; but I confess I can see no
curtains hereabouts that answer their description."

Anne sighed and blushed and smiled, in pity and disdain, either at her
friend or herself.  The part which provoked her most, was that in all
this waste of foresight and caution, she should have lost the right
moment for seeing whether he saw them.

A day or two passed without producing anything.  The theatre or the
rooms, where he was most likely to be, were not fashionable enough for
the Elliots, whose evening amusements were solely in the elegant
stupidity of private parties, in which they were getting more and more
engaged; and Anne, wearied of such a state of stagnation, sick of
knowing nothing, and fancying herself stronger because her strength was
not tried, was quite impatient for the concert evening.  It was a
concert for the benefit of a person patronised by Lady Dalrymple.  Of
course they must attend.  It was really expected to be a good one, and
Captain Wentworth was very fond of music.  If she could only have a few
minutes conversation with him again, she fancied she should be
satisfied; and as to the power of addressing him, she felt all over
courage if the opportunity occurred.  Elizabeth had turned from him,
Lady Russell overlooked him; her nerves were strengthened by these
circumstances; she felt that she owed him attention.

She had once partly promised Mrs Smith to spend the evening with her;
but in a short hurried call she excused herself and put it off, with
the more decided promise of a longer visit on the morrow.  Mrs Smith
gave a most good-humoured acquiescence.

"By all means," said she; "only tell me all about it, when you do come.
Who is your party?"

Anne named them all.  Mrs Smith made no reply; but when she was leaving
her said, and with an expression half serious, half arch, "Well, I
heartily wish your concert may answer; and do not fail me to-morrow if
you can come; for I begin to have a foreboding that I may not have many
more visits from you."

Anne was startled and confused; but after standing in a moment's
suspense, was obliged, and not sorry to be obliged, to hurry away.



　　就在克罗夫特将军和安妮一边走着，一边表示希望把温特沃思上校叫到巴思时，温特沃思上校已经走在来巴思的路上。克罗夫特夫人还没写信，他就到达了。安妮下一次出门时，便见到了他。
　　埃利奥特先生陪着两个堂妹和克莱夫人，来到米尔萨姆街。不想天下起雨来，雨不大，但是夫人小姐们希望能找个避雨处，特别是埃利奥特小姐，她希望达尔林普尔夫人的马车能把她们送回家，因为她见到那辆马车就停在不远的地方。于是，埃利奥特小姐、安妮和克莱夫人便躲进莫兰糖果店，埃利奥特先生走到达尔林普尔，夫人跟前，劳驾她帮帮忙。他当然获得了成功，很快回到了夫人小姐这里。达尔林普尔夫人十分乐意送她们回家，过几分钟会来招呼她们的。
　　子爵夫人用的是辆四轮马车，只能坐四个人，再多就挤不下了。卡特雷特小姐陪着她母亲，因此不能期望让卡姆登巷的三位女士都上车。埃利奥特小姐无疑是要坐上去的，无论让谁承受不便，也不能让她有所不便。但是解决另外两个人的谦让问题却费了一番工夫。安妮不在乎这点雨，极其诚恳地希望同埃利奥特先生走回去。可是克莱夫人也不在乎这点雨，她简直认为雨不在下，何况她的靴子又那么厚J比安妮小姐的还厚。总而言之，她客客气气的，就像安妮一样迫切希望同埃利奥特先生走回去。两人宽宏大量地谦让来谦让去，实在争执不下，不得已只好由别人代为裁夺。埃利奥特小姐坚持认为克莱夫人已经有点感冒，埃利奥特先生受到恳求，还是断定他堂妹安妮的皮靴更厚些。
　　因此，大伙决定让克莱夫人坐到马车上。这个决定刚刚作出，坐在窗口附近的安妮清清楚楚地看见温特沃思上校顺着大街走来。
　　她的惊讶只有她自己觉察得到，但是她当即感到她是世界上最大的笨蛋，真是荒唐至极，不可思议！一时之间，她什么也看不见了，眼前一片模糊。她茫然不知所措，只怪自己不冷静，等她好不容易恢复了神志，却发现别人还在等车。一向殷勤讨好的埃利奥特先生马上朝联盟街走去，替克莱夫人办点什么事情。
　　安妮很想走到外门那儿，看看天在不在下雨。她为什么要怀疑自己别有用心呢？温特沃思上校一定走没影了。她离开座位想走。她不应该怀疑自己心里有什么不理智的念头，也不应该怀疑自己头脑深处有什么见不得人的东西。她要看看天在不在下雨。可是转眼间她又转回来了，只见温特沃思上校和一帮先生女士走了进来。明摆着，这些人都是他的朋友，他准是在米尔萨姆街下面一点碰见他们的。一见到安妮，他显得十分震惊，安妮从未看见他这么慌张过，满脸涨得通红。自打他们重新结交以来，安妮第一次感到自己没有他来得激动。她比他有个有利条件，在最后一刹那做好了思想准备，惊愕之际，那种震慑、眩晕、手足无措的最初感觉已经消失。可是，她心里仍然很激动。这是激动、痛苦加高兴，真有点悲喜交集。
　　温特沃思上校对她说了两句话，然后便走开了。他的样子十分尴尬。安妮既不能说他冷漠，也不能说他友好，也不能一口咬定他很窘迫。
　　过了一会，他又走过来同她说话。两人相互询问了一些共同关心的问题，可是八成谁都没有听进去，安妮仍旧觉得他不像以前那样从容不迫。以往，他们由于经常在一起，说起话来显得十分自然、随便。但是他现在却做不到了。时光使他发生了变化，或者是路易莎使他发生了变化。他总是有点局促不安。他看样子倒挺好，仿佛身体和精神都不感到痛苦。他谈起了厄泼克劳斯，谈起了默斯格罗夫一家人，甚至谈起了路易莎，而且在提到她的名字时，脸上甚至掠过一副既俏皮又神气的表情。然而，温特沃思上校毕竟是忐忑不安的，无法装出泰然自若的样子。
　　安妮发现伊丽莎白不肯认他，对此她并不感到奇怪，但却感到伤心。她知道温特沃思上校看见了伊丽莎白，伊丽莎白也看见了他，而且彼此心里都明白对方是谁。她相信，温特沃思上校很愿意被认作朋友，正在满心期待着，不想安妮痛心地见到姐姐把脸一转，依然一副冷冰冰的样子。
　　埃利奥特小姐正等得不耐烦的时候，达尔林普尔夫人的马车过来了，仆人走来通报。天又下雨了，夫人小姐先是磨蹭了一下，然后忙碌起来，大声谈论着，这一准使糖果店里所有的人都明白，是达尔林普尔夫人来请埃利奥特小姐上车。最后，埃利奥特小姐和她的朋友走开了，照料她们上车的只有那位仆人，因为做堂哥的没有回来。温特沃思上校望着她们，再次掉脸朝着安妮，他虽然嘴里没说，但是从举止上看得出来，他要送她上车。
　　“非常感谢你，”她答道，“不过我不和她们一起走。马车坐不下这么多人。我走路，我喜欢走路。”
　　“可天在下雨。”
　　“哦！雨很小，我看算不上下雨。”
　　温特沃思上校停了片刻，然后说道：“我虽说昨天才到，可是已经为在巴思生活做好了充分准备，你瞧，”他指着一把新伞，“你要是执意要走的话，希望你能打着这把伞。不过，我想最好还是让我给你叫一台轿子来。”
　　安妮十分感激他，但谢绝了他的好意，一面把她认为雨很快就要住的话重复了一遍。接着她又补充说：“我只是在等候埃利奥特先生。我想他马上就会回来。”
　　她的话音刚落，埃利奥特先生便走了进来。温特沃思上校完全记得他。他和站在莱姆台阶上以爱慕的目光望着安妮走过的那个人毫无两样，只是现在仗着自己是她的亲戚和朋友，神情姿态有些差异。他急急忙忙地走进来，似乎眼里看到、心里想着的只有安妮。他为自己的耽搁表示歉意，为使安妮久等感到痛心，迫切希望马上就带着她走，不要等到雨大起来。转眼间，他们便一道离开了，安妮用手挽住他的胳膊，打温特沃思上校面前走过时，只来得及朝他温柔而尴尬地望了一眼，说了声“再见”！
　　等他俩走得看不见了，与温特沃思上校同行的几位女士便对他们议论开了。
　　“我想埃利奥特先生并不讨厌他的堂妹吧？”
　　“唔，不讨厌，那是明摆着的。人们可以猜想他俩会出现什么情况。他总是和她们在一起，我想是有一半时间住在她们家里。好一个美男子！”
　　“是的。阿特金森小姐曾经和他一道在沃利斯府上吃过饭，说他是她结交过的最讨人喜欢的男子。”
　　“我觉得安妮·埃利奥特很漂亮。你要是细瞧，她还真漂亮呢。现在不作兴这么说，可是不瞒你说，我爱慕她胜过爱慕她姐姐。”
　　“哦！我也如此。”
　　“我也如此。没法相比。可男人们都发疯似的追求埃利奥特小姐。他们觉得安妮太娇贵了。”
　　埃利奥特先生陪着安妮朝卡姆登巷走去。他假如一路上一声不吭的话，安妮倒会对他感激不尽。她从来不曾觉得听他说话有这么困难，尽管他对她极为关心，而且谈论的大都是些总能激起她兴趣的话题：一是热烈而公正地赞扬拉塞尔夫人，显得很有鉴赏力；二是含沙射影地攻击克莱夫人，听起来十分在理。可是现在她一心只想着温特沃思上校。她无法想象他眼下是怎样一种心情，不知道他是不是真的忍受着失恋的痛苦。不搞清楚这一点，她就不可能恢复常态。
　　她希望自己能很快变得明智起来。可是天哪！她必须承认，她现在还不明智。
　　还有个极其主要的情况她需要知道，这就是温特沃思上校打算在巴思呆多久。这个问题他没说起过，或者是她自己想不起来了。他也许仅仅是路过。但是更有可能的，是他要在这里住下来。如果真是这样，鉴于在巴思人人都可能相逢，拉塞尔夫人十有八九会在什么地方遇见他。她会认出他来吗？结果又会怎样呢？
　　她出于无奈，已经把路易莎·默斯格罗夫要嫁给本威克中校的消息告诉了拉塞尔夫人。见到拉塞尔夫人那副吃惊的样子，安妮心里很不是滋味。这位夫人对情况并不十分了解，万一遇见温特沃思上校，也许又要对他增添几分偏见。
　　第二天早晨，安妮陪着她的朋友一道出去。头一个小时，她一直在提心吊胆地留神温特沃思上校，幸而没有见到。可是到了最后，正当两人顺着普尔蒂尼街往回走的时候，她在右手的人行道上发现了他，他所处的位置使她离着大半条街也能看得见。他周围有许多人，一群一群的也朝同一方向走去，不过谁也不会认错他。安妮本能地望望拉塞尔夫人，这倒不是因为她生出了什么怪念头，认为拉塞尔夫人能像她自己一样立即认出温特沃思上校。不，除非迎面相视，否则拉塞尔夫人休想认出他。不过，安妮还是有些焦灼不安，不时地瞅瞅她。温特沃思上校亮相的时刻来临了，安妮虽说不敢再扭头望了（因为她知道自己的脸色不中看），但她十分清楚，拉塞尔夫人的目光正对着温特沃思上校的那个方向。总之，她正在目不转睛地注视他。她完全可以理解，温特沃思上校在拉塞尔夫人的心目中具有一种摇神动魄的魅力，她的目光很难从他身上抽回来，一见他在异水他乡服了八九年现役居然没有失去半点魅力，这岂能不叫她感到惊讶！
　　最后，拉塞尔夫人终于转过头来。“现在她会怎么议论他呢？”
　　“你会奇怪，”拉塞尔夫人说，“什么东西让我凝视了这么久。我在寻找一种窗帘，是阿利西亚夫人和弗兰克兰太太昨晚告诉我的。她们说有一家客厅的窗帘是全巴思最美观、最实用的，这一家就在这一带，街这边，但是她们记不清门牌号码，我只好设法找找看。不过说实话，我在这附近看不见她们说的这种窗帘。”
　　安妮不知道是对她的朋友还是对她自己产生了一股怜悯鄙夷之情，不由得叹了口气，脸上一红，淡然一笑。最使她感到恼火的是，她谨小慎微地虚惊了一场，结果坐失良机，连温特沃思上校是否发现她俩都没注意到。
　　无声无息地过了一两天，温特沃思上校最可能出入的戏院、娱乐厅，对埃利奥特一家人来说却有失时髦，他们晚上的唯一乐趣就是举行些风雅而无聊的家庭舞会，而且越搞越来劲。安妮厌烦这种死气沉沉的局面，厌烦孤陋寡闻，觉得自己有力无处使，身体比以前强多了，迫不及待地要参加音乐会。这场音乐会是专为达尔林普尔夫人的被保护人举办的。当然，她们一家人应该参加。这的确将是一场很好的音乐会，而温特沃思上校又十分喜欢音乐。安妮只要能够再与他交谈几分钟，也就会感到心满意足了。至于说敢不敢向他打招呼，她觉得时机一到，她将浑身都是勇气。伊丽莎白不理他，拉塞尔夫人瞧不起他，这反倒使她坚强起来，她觉得她应该关心他。
　　安妮曾经含含糊糊地答应过史密斯夫人：这天晚上同她一起度过。后来她匆匆忙忙地跑到她家稍坐了一会，说了声对不起，今天不能久留了，明天一定再来多坐一会。史密斯夫人和颜悦色地同意了。
　　“当然可以，”她说。“不过你再来的时候，可要把音乐会的情况细说给我听听。你们参加音乐会的都有些什么人？”
　　安妮说出了所有参加人的姓名。史密斯夫人没有答话。可是当安妮起身要走的时候，她却带着半认真、半开玩笑的神气说道：“我衷心希望你们的音乐会取得成功。你明天能来的话，千万得来。我有个预感，你来看我的次数不多了。”
　　安妮蓦地一惊，实在摸不着头脑。她莫名其妙地愣了片刻之后，只好匆匆地离开，而且心里并不感到遗憾。
  



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Chapter Twenty

Sir Walter, his two daughters, and Mrs Clay, were the earliest of all
their party at the rooms in the evening; and as Lady Dalrymple must be
waited for, they took their station by one of the fires in the Octagon
Room.  But hardly were they so settled, when the door opened again, and
Captain Wentworth walked in alone.  Anne was the nearest to him, and
making yet a little advance, she instantly spoke.  He was preparing
only to bow and pass on, but her gentle "How do you do?" brought him
out of the straight line to stand near her, and make enquiries in
return, in spite of the formidable father and sister in the back
ground.  Their being in the back ground was a support to Anne; she knew
nothing of their looks, and felt equal to everything which she believed
right to be done.

While they were speaking, a whispering between her father and Elizabeth
caught her ear.  She could not distinguish, but she must guess the
subject; and on Captain Wentworth's making a distant bow, she
comprehended that her father had judged so well as to give him that
simple acknowledgement of acquaintance, and she was just in time by a
side glance to see a slight curtsey from Elizabeth herself.  This,
though late, and reluctant, and ungracious, was yet better than
nothing, and her spirits improved.

After talking, however, of the weather, and Bath, and the concert,
their conversation began to flag, and so little was said at last, that
she was expecting him to go every moment, but he did not; he seemed in
no hurry to leave her; and presently with renewed spirit, with a little
smile, a little glow, he said--

"I have hardly seen you since our day at Lyme.  I am afraid you must
have suffered from the shock, and the more from its not overpowering
you at the time."

She assured him that she had not.

"It was a frightful hour," said he, "a frightful day!" and he passed
his hand across his eyes, as if the remembrance were still too painful,
but in a moment, half smiling again, added, "The day has produced some
effects however; has had some consequences which must be considered as
the very reverse of frightful.  When you had the presence of mind to
suggest that Benwick would be the properest person to fetch a surgeon,
you could have little idea of his being eventually one of those most
concerned in her recovery."

"Certainly I could have none.  But it appears--I should hope it would
be a very happy match.  There are on both sides good principles and
good temper."

"Yes," said he, looking not exactly forward; "but there, I think, ends
the resemblance.  With all my soul I wish them happy, and rejoice over
every circumstance in favour of it.  They have no difficulties to
contend with at home, no opposition, no caprice, no delays.  The
Musgroves are behaving like themselves, most 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--

"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 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 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 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 heart returning to her at least; that
anger, resentment, avoidance, were no more; and that they were
succeeded, not merely by friendship and regard, but by the tenderness
of the past.  Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past.  She could
not contemplate the change as implying less.  He must love her.

These were thoughts, with their attendant visions, which occupied and
flurried her too much to leave her any power of observation; and she
passed along the room without having a glimpse of him, without even
trying to discern him.  When their places were determined on, and they
were all properly arranged, she looked round to see if he should happen
to be in the same part of the room, but he was not; her eye could not
reach him; and the concert being just opening, she must consent for a
time to be happy in a humbler way.

The party was divided and disposed of on two contiguous benches: Anne
was among those on the foremost, and Mr Elliot had manoeuvred so well,
with the assistance of his friend Colonel Wallis, as to have a seat by
her.  Miss Elliot, surrounded by her cousins, and the principal object
of Colonel Wallis's gallantry, was quite contented.

Anne's mind was in a most favourable state for the entertainment of the
evening; it was just occupation enough:  she had feelings for the
tender, spirits for the gay, attention for the scientific, and patience
for the wearisome; and had never liked a concert better, at least
during the first act.  Towards the close of it, in the interval
succeeding an Italian song, she explained the words of the song to Mr
Elliot.  They had a concert bill between them.

"This," said she, "is nearly the sense, or rather the meaning of the
words, for certainly the sense of an Italian love-song must not be
talked of, but it is as nearly the meaning as I can give; for I do not
pretend to understand the language.  I am a very poor Italian scholar."

"Yes, yes, I see you are.  I see you know nothing of the matter.  You
have only knowledge enough of the language to translate at sight these
inverted, transposed, curtailed Italian lines, into clear,
comprehensible, elegant English.  You need not say anything more of
your ignorance.  Here is complete proof."

"I will not oppose such kind politeness; but I should be sorry to be
examined by a real proficient."

"I have not had the pleasure of visiting in Camden Place so long,"
replied he, "without knowing something of Miss Anne Elliot; and I do
regard her as one who is too modest for the world in general to be
aware of half her accomplishments, and too highly accomplished for
modesty to be natural in any other woman."

"For shame! for shame! this is too much flattery.  I forget what we are
to have next," turning to the bill.

"Perhaps," said Mr Elliot, speaking low, "I have had a longer
acquaintance with your character than you are aware of."

"Indeed!  How so?  You can have been acquainted with it only since I
came to Bath, excepting as you might hear me previously spoken of in my
own family."

"I knew you by report long before you came to Bath.  I had heard you
described by those who knew you intimately.  I have been acquainted
with you by character many years.  Your person, your disposition,
accomplishments, manner; they were all present to me."

Mr Elliot was not disappointed in the interest he hoped to raise.  No
one can withstand the charm of such a mystery.  To have been described
long ago to a recent acquaintance, by nameless people, is irresistible;
and Anne was all curiosity.  She wondered, and questioned him eagerly;
but in vain.  He delighted in being asked, but he would not tell.

"No, no, some time or other, perhaps, but not now.  He would mention no
names now; but such, he could assure her, had been the fact.  He had
many years ago received such a description of Miss Anne Elliot as had
inspired him with the highest idea of her merit, and excited the
warmest curiosity to know her."

Anne could think of no one so likely to have spoken with partiality of
her many years ago as the Mr Wentworth of Monkford, Captain Wentworth's
brother.  He might have been in Mr Elliot's company, but she had not
courage to ask the question.

"The name of Anne Elliot," said he, "has long had an interesting sound
to me.  Very long has it possessed a charm over my fancy; and, if I
dared, I would breathe my wishes that the name might never change."

Such, she believed, were his words; but scarcely had she received their
sound, than her attention was caught by other sounds immediately behind
her, which rendered every thing else trivial.  Her father and Lady
Dalrymple were speaking.

"A well-looking man," said Sir Walter, "a very well-looking man."

"A very fine young man indeed!" said Lady Dalrymple.  "More air than
one often sees in Bath.  Irish, I dare say."

"No, I just know his name.  A bowing acquaintance.  Wentworth; Captain
Wentworth of the navy.  His sister married my tenant in Somersetshire,
the Croft, who rents Kellynch."

Before Sir Walter had reached this point, Anne's eyes had caught the
right direction, and distinguished Captain Wentworth standing among a
cluster of men at a little distance.  As her eyes fell on him, his
seemed to be withdrawn from her.  It had that appearance.  It seemed as
if she had been one moment too late; and as long as she dared observe,
he did not look again:  but the performance was recommencing, and she
was forced to seem to restore her attention to the orchestra and look
straight forward.

When she could give another glance, he had moved away.  He could not
have come nearer to her if he would; she was so surrounded and shut in:
but she would rather have caught his eye.

Mr Elliot's speech, too, distressed her.  She had no longer any
inclination to talk to him.  She wished him not so near her.

The first act was over.  Now she hoped for some beneficial change; and,
after a period of nothing-saying amongst the party, some of them did
decide on going in quest of tea.  Anne was one of the few who did not
choose to move.  She remained in her seat, and so did Lady Russell; but
she had the pleasure of getting rid of Mr Elliot; and she did not mean,
whatever she might feel on Lady Russell's account, to shrink from
conversation with Captain Wentworth, if he gave her the opportunity.
She was persuaded by Lady Russell's countenance that she had seen him.

He did not come however.  Anne sometimes fancied she discerned him at a
distance, but he never came.  The anxious interval wore away
unproductively.  The others returned, the room filled again, benches
were reclaimed and repossessed, and another hour of pleasure or of
penance was to be sat out, another hour of music was to give delight or
the gapes, as real or affected taste for it prevailed.  To Anne, it
chiefly wore the prospect of an hour of agitation.  She could not quit
that room in peace without seeing Captain Wentworth once more, without
the interchange of one friendly look.

In re-settling themselves there were now many changes, the result of
which was favourable for her.  Colonel Wallis declined sitting down
again, and Mr Elliot was invited by Elizabeth and Miss Carteret, in a
manner not to be refused, to sit between them; and by some other
removals, and a little scheming of her own,  Anne was enabled to place
herself much nearer the end of the bench than she had been before, much
more within reach of a passer-by.  She could not do so, without
comparing herself with Miss Larolles, the inimitable Miss Larolles; but
still she did it, and not with much happier effect; though by what
seemed prosperity in the shape of an early abdication in her next
neighbours, she found herself at the very end of the bench before the
concert closed.

Such was her situation, with a vacant space at hand, when Captain
Wentworth was again in sight.  She saw him not far off.  He saw her
too; yet he looked grave, and seemed irresolute, and only by very slow
degrees came at last near enough to speak to her.  She felt that
something must be the matter.  The change was indubitable.  The
difference between his present air and what it had been in the Octagon
Room was strikingly great.  Why was it?  She thought of her father, of
Lady Russell.  Could there have been any unpleasant glances?  He began
by speaking of the concert gravely, more like the Captain Wentworth of
Uppercross; owned himself disappointed, had expected singing; and in
short, must confess that he should not be sorry when it was over.  Anne
replied, and spoke in defence of the performance so well, and yet in
allowance for his feelings so pleasantly, that his countenance
improved, and he replied again with almost a smile.  They talked for a
few minutes more; the improvement held; he even looked down towards the
bench, as if he saw a place on it well worth occupying; when at that
moment a touch on her shoulder obliged Anne to turn round.  It came
from Mr Elliot.  He begged her pardon, but she must be applied to, to
explain Italian again.  Miss Carteret was very anxious to have a
general idea of what was next to be sung.  Anne could not refuse; but
never had she sacrificed to politeness with a more suffering spirit.

A few minutes, though as few as possible, were inevitably consumed; and
when her own mistress again, when able to turn and look as she had done
before, she found herself accosted by Captain Wentworth, in a reserved
yet hurried sort of farewell.  "He must wish her good night; he was
going; he should get home as fast as he could."

"Is not this song worth staying for?" said Anne, suddenly struck by an
idea which made her yet more anxious to be encouraging.

"No!" he replied impressively, "there is nothing worth my staying for;"
and he was gone directly.

Jealousy of Mr Elliot!  It was the only intelligible motive.  Captain
Wentworth jealous of her affection!  Could she have believed it a week
ago; three hours ago!  For a moment the gratification was exquisite.
But, alas! there were very different thoughts to succeed.  How was such
jealousy to be quieted?  How was the truth to reach him?  How, in all
the peculiar disadvantages of their respective situations, would he
ever learn of her real sentiments?  It was misery to think of Mr
Elliot's attentions.  Their evil was incalculable.



　　沃尔特爵士、她的两个女儿以及克莱夫人是当晚到得最早的几个人。因为还得等候达尔林普尔夫人，他们便在八角厅的一处炉火旁就座。刚一坐定，不想门又打开了，只见温特沃思上校独自走了进来。安妮离他最近，立即往前迈了两步，向他问好。他本来只准备鞠个躬就走过去，但是一听见她温柔地说了声“你好”便改变了路线，走到她的跟前，回问起她的情况，尽管她那令人望而生畏的父亲和姐姐就在背后。他们坐在背后倒使安妮更放心了，反正她也看不见他们的神色，她便更有勇气做她认为应该做的事情。
　　就在他们说话的当儿，她听见她父亲和伊丽莎白在窃窃私语。她听不清他们说些什么，但是猜得出他们的话题。温特沃思上校隔着老远鞠了个躬，安妮意识到她父亲认出了他，向他做了个简单的表示。安妮再往旁边一瞧，正好见到伊丽莎白微微行了个屈膝礼，虽说晚了些，勉勉强强的，有失风雅，可总比毫无表示要好。安妮的心情顿时松快了一些。
　　但是，两人谈完了天气、巴思、音乐会之后，说话的势头又减弱了，后来简直无话可谈了，安妮以为他随时都会走掉，谁想他就是没走。他似乎并不急于离开她。过了一会，他又恢复了兴致，脸上泛出了微微的笑容和淡淡的红晕，然后说道：
　　“自巴思那天以来，我几乎一直没有见到你。我担心你准是受惊了。你当时没被吓倒，以后更容易受惊。”
　　安妮叫他放心，她没受惊。
　　“那是个可怕的时刻，”他说，“可怕的一天！”说着用手抹了一下眼睛，仿佛回想起来依然痛苦万分似的，可是转瞬间，他脸上又浮起了几分笑容，嘴里接着说道：“不过，那天还是产生了一定的影响，引起了一些应该看作与可怕恰恰相反的后果。当你镇定自若地建议说最好让本威克去请医生时，你根本想象不到他最终会成为对路易莎的复原最为关切的一个人。”
　　“我当然想象不到。不过看样子……我希望这是一门十分幸福的婚事。他们双方都有美好的信仰和温良的性情。”
　　“是的，”他说，看样子并：不十分爽快。“不过我认为，他们的相似之处也就是这些。我衷心祝愿他们幸福，只要他们能幸福，我就为之高兴。他们在家里不会遇到什么麻烦，没有人表示异议，没有人出尔反尔，也没有人想要拖延这门婚事。默斯格罗夫夫妇为人一贯极其体面厚道，他们出于做父母的一片真心，就想促进女儿的幸福。这一切对于他们的幸福是很有利的，也许比……”
　　他顿住了。只见安妮红了脸，目光垂到了地下，他仿佛陡然记起了什么往事，使他也尝到了几分安妮心里的滋味。不过，他清了清嗓子，接着这样说道：
　　“不瞒你说，我的确认为他们有所差别，极大的差别，本质上的差别，可以说是智力上的差别。我把路易莎·默斯格罗夫看作一个十分和蔼、十分温柔的姑娘，智力并不贫乏，但是本威克更胜一筹。他是个聪明人，读书人。不瞒你说，我对他爱上路易莎着实有些诧异。假如他是出于感激的缘故，假如他是由于认为她看中了自己才开始喜爱她，那将另当别论。但是，我看情况并非如此。相反，他的感情好像完全是自发的，这就使我感到奇怪了。像他这样一个人，又处在那种境况！一颗心已经受到了创伤，简直都快碎了！范妮·哈维尔是个出类拔萃的女性，他对她的爱可真称得上爱情。一个男人不会忘情于这样一位女子！他不应该忘情，也不会忘情。”
　　他不晓得是意识到他的朋友已经忘情了，还是意识到别的什么问题，反正他没有再说下去。尽管他后半截话说得非常激动，尽管屋里一片嘈杂，房门砰砰地几乎响个不停，进出的人们唧唧喳喳地说个没完，安妮却字字都听得很真切，禁不住既激动，又兴奋，又有些心荒，顿时感到呼吸急促，百感交集。要她谈论这样的话题，那是不可能的，然而歇了一会儿，她觉得还是得说话，而且又丝毫不想完全改变话题，于是只打了个这样的岔：
　　“我想你在莱姆呆了好久吧？”
　　“大约两个星期。路易莎没有确实恢复健康之前，我不能走开。这起恶作剧使我陷得太深了，心里一时安静不下来。这都是由我造成的，完全是由我造成的。假如我不是那么软弱，她也不会那么固执。莱姆四周的景色十分秀丽，我常常到那里散步、骑马，我越看越喜欢这个地方。”
　　“我很想再看看莱姆，”安妮说。
　　“真的吗？我万万没有想到你会对莱姆产生这样的感情。你给卷入了惊恐和烦恼之中，搞得思想紧张，精神疲惫！我本以为你对莱姆的最后印象一定是深恶痛绝的。”
　　“最后几个小时当然是十分痛苦的，”安妮答道。“但是痛苦过后，再回想：起来倒经常变成一桩赏心乐事。人们并不因为在一个地方吃了苦头便不喜欢这个地方，除非是吃尽了苦头，一点甜头也没尝到，而莱姆的情况决非如此。我们只是在最后两个钟头才感到焦灼不安的，在这之前还是非常快乐的。那么多新奇的东西，美不胜收！我走的地方很少，每个新鲜地方都能引起我的兴趣，不过莱姆真的美极了。总而言之，”她不知道想起了什么往事，脸上略微有些发红，“我对莱姆的整个印象还是非常愉快的。”
　　她话音刚落，大厅的门又打开了，他们正在等候的那伙人驾到了。只听有人欣喜地说道：“达尔林普尔夫人！达尔林普尔夫人！”沃尔特爵士和他的两位女士带着热切而优雅的神态，迫不及待地走上前去欢迎她。达尔林普尔夫人和卡特雷特小姐在埃利奥特先生和沃利斯上校的陪同下（这两位几乎在同一时刻到达），走进屋里。其他人都凑到她们跟前，安妮觉得自己也应该入伙。她同温特沃思上校分开了。他们有趣的，简直是太有趣的谈话只得暂时中断。但是，同引起这场谈话的愉快心情相比，这种自我牺牲毕竟是微不足道的！在刚才的十分钟里，她了解到那么多他对路易莎的看法，了解到那么多他对其他问题的看法，这完全出乎她的意想之外。她带着愉快而激动的心情，去满足众人的要求，应酬一些当时必要的礼仪。她对谁都和颜悦色的。她产生了这样的念头，以至于使她对所有的人都客客气气的，对每个不及她幸运的人都深表同情。
　　她离开众人再去找温特沃思上校的时候，发现他不在了，心里不觉有点扫兴。一转眼，恰好看见他走进音乐厅。他走了，看不见了，安妮感到一阵惆怅。不过，他们还会再次相逢。他会来找她的，不等音乐会结束就会找到她，眼下兴许分开一会也好。她需要点间隙定定心。
　　过了不久，拉塞尔夫人到了，众人聚到一起，只等着列队步入音乐厅。一个个尽量装出神气十足的样子，尽可能引起别人的注目、窃窃私语和心神不宁。
　　伊丽莎白和安妮喜气洋洋地走进音乐厅。伊丽莎白同卡特雷特小姐臂挽臂，望着走在前面的达尔林普尔子爵夫人的宽阔背影，似乎自己没有什么奢望是不可企及的。而安妮呢，对安妮来说，拿她的幸福观和她姐姐的幸福观相比较，那将是一种耻辱，因为一个是出于自私自利的虚荣心，一个出于高尚的爱情。
　　安妮没有看到、也没有想到这屋子的富丽堂皇。她的快乐是发自内心的。只见她两眼亮晶晶，双颊红扑扑的，可是她对此却全然不知。她脑子里光想着刚才的半个小时，等大家来到座位前时，她匆匆回想了一下当时的情景。温特沃思选择的那些话题，他的那些表情，特别是他的举止和神色，使她只能得出一个看法：他瞧不起路易莎·默斯格罗夫，而且急着要把这个意见告诉她安妮。他对本威克中校的惊讶，对第一次热恋的看法，话语刚开了个头就说不下去了，躲躲闪闪的眼睛，以及那意味深长的目光，这一切都表明，他至少在恢复对她的情意。昔日的嗔怒、怨恨和回避已经不复存在了，代之而来的不止是友好与敬重，而且是过去的柔情蜜意。是的，颇有几分过去的柔情蜜意！她仔细想想这个变化，觉得得意味非同小可。他一定还爱着她。
　　她一心想着这些念头，脑海里闪现出当时的种种情景，搅得她心慌意乱，无法再去留心周围的事情。她走进音乐厅，并没看见他，甚至也不想搜寻他。等排好位置，众人都坐定之后，她环视了一下四周，看看他是否也在屋子的同一部位，可惜他不在。她的目光见不到他，音乐会刚好开始，她暂时只得将就一下，领受这相形见绌的欢乐。
　　众人被一分为二，安排在两条邻近的长凳子上。安妮坐在前排，埃利奥特先生在他的朋友沃利斯上校的协助下，十分巧妙地坐到了她的旁边。埃利奥特小姐一看周围都是她的堂表亲戚，沃利斯上校又一味地向她献殷勤，不由觉得十分得意。
　　安妮心里高兴，对当晚的节目极为中意。这些节目还真够她消遣的，情意绵绵的她喜爱，格调欢快的她有兴致，内容精彩的她能留心听，令人厌烦的她能耐心听。她从来没有这样喜欢过音乐会，起码在演第一组节目时情况如此。这组节目快结束的时候，趁着唱完一支意大利歌曲的间隙，她向埃利奥特先生解释歌词。他们两人正合用着一份节目单。
　　“这就是歌词的大致含义，”她说，“或者更确切地说，是歌词的大致意思，因为意大利爱情歌曲的含义当然是无法言传的，而这大致上就是我所能说明的歌曲的意思。我不想对这种语言不懂装懂，我的意大利语学得很差。”
　　“是的，是的，我看你是学得很差。我看你对此道一窍不通。你只有那么一点语言知识，能够即席把这些倒装、变位、缩略的意大利歌词译成清晰、易懂、优美的英语。你不必再絮叨你的无知了。这可是他没有过来。安妮有时以为她隔着老远见到了他，可他始终没有过来。休息时间渐渐过去了，安妮焦灼不安地白等了一场。其他人都回来了，屋里又挤得满满的，一个个重新坐到凳子上。这一个钟头要坚持到底，有人觉得是件快事，有人觉得是种惩罚，有人从中得到乐趣，有人直打哈欠，就看你对音乐是真欣赏还是假欣赏。对安妮来说，这可能成为心神不宁的一个钟头。她若是不能再一次见到温特沃思上校，不和他友好地对看一眼，便无法安安静静地离开音乐厅。
　　大伙重新坐定的时候，位子发生了很大变动，结果对安妮倒颇为有利。沃利斯上校不肯再坐下，埃利奥特先生受到伊丽莎白和卡特雷特小姐的邀请，实在不便推托，只好坐到她们两人之间。由于还走了另外几个人，再加上她自己又稍微挪了挪，安妮得以坐到一个比先前离凳子末端更近的位置上，这样更容易接近过往的人。她要这样做又不能不拿自己和拉罗里斯小姐相比，就是那个无与伦比的拉罗里斯小姐。可她还是这样做了，而且结果并不十分愉快。不过，由于她旁边的人接二连三地早就离去，到音乐会结束之前，她发觉自己就坐在凳子尽头。
　　她就坐在这样的位置上，旁边有个空位。恰在这时，温特沃思上校又出现了。她见他离自己不远。他也见到了她。不过他板着面孔，显出犹豫不决的样子，只是慢慢腾腾地走到跟前，和她说话。她觉得一定出了什么事。变化是毋庸置疑的。他现在的神色与先前在八角厅里的神色显然大为不同。这是为什么呢？她想到了她父亲，想到了拉塞尔夫人。难道有谁向他投去了不愉快的目光？他谈起了音乐会，那个严肃的神气就像在厄泼克劳斯一样。他承认自
　　已有些失望，他本来期望能听到更优美的歌声。总之，他必须承认，音乐会结束的时候，他不会感到遗憾。安妮回答时，倒是为演唱会辩护了一番，不过为了照顾他的情绪，话说得十分委婉动听。他的脸色变得和悦了，回话时几乎露出了笑容。他们又谈了几分钟。他的脸色依然是和悦的，他甚至低头朝凳子上望去，仿佛发现有个空位，很想坐下去。恰在这时，有人碰了碰安妮的肩膀，安妮趁势转过头来。碰她的是埃利奥特先生。他说对不起，还得请她再解释一下意大利文歌词。卡特雷特小姐急切希望了解下面要唱的歌曲大致是个什么意思。安妮无法拒绝，但是她出于礼貌表示同意时，心里从来没有这样勉强过。
　　她虽然想尽量少用点时间，但还是不可避免地花费了好几分钟。等她腾出身来，掉过头像先前那样望去时，发现温特沃思上校走上前来，拘谨而匆忙地向她告别。“祝你晚安。我要走啦。我得尽快回到家里。”
　　“难道这支歌曲不值得你留下来听听吗？”安妮说。她突然产生了一个念头，使她更加急切地想怂恿他留下。
　　“不！”他断然答道，“没有什么东西值得让我留下的。”说罢，当即走了出去。
　　嫉妒埃利奥特先生！这是可以理解的唯一动机。温特沃思上校嫉妒她的感情！这在一周以前，甚至三个钟头以前，简直叫她无法相信！一时之间，她心里感到大为得意。可是，她后来的想法可就复杂了。如何打消他的嫉妒心呢？如何让他明白事实真相呢？他们两人都处于特别不利的境地，他如何能了解到她的真实感情呢？一想起埃利奥特先生在大献殷勤，就令人痛苦。他的这番殷勤真是后患无穷。1
  
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一二三四五六七~~~
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Chapter Twenty-one

Anne recollected with pleasure the next morning her promise of going to
Mrs Smith, meaning that it should engage her from home at the time when
Mr Elliot would be most likely to call; for to avoid Mr Elliot was
almost a first object.

She felt a great deal of good-will towards him.  In spite of the
mischief of his attentions, she owed him gratitude and regard, perhaps
compassion.  She could not help thinking much of the extraordinary
circumstances attending their acquaintance, of the right which he
seemed to have to interest her, by everything in situation, by his own
sentiments, by his early prepossession.  It was altogether very
extraordinary; flattering, but painful.  There was much to regret.  How
she might have felt had there been no Captain Wentworth in the case,
was not worth enquiry; for there was a Captain Wentworth; and be the
conclusion of the present suspense good or bad, her affection would be
his for ever.  Their union, she believed, could not divide her more
from other men, than their final separation.

Prettier musings of high-wrought love and eternal constancy, could
never have passed along the streets of Bath, than Anne was sporting
with from Camden Place to Westgate Buildings.  It was almost enough to
spread purification and perfume all the way.

She was sure of a pleasant reception; and her friend seemed this
morning particularly obliged to her for coming, seemed hardly to have
expected her, though it had been an appointment.

An account of the concert was immediately claimed; and Anne's
recollections of the concert were quite happy enough to animate her
features and make her rejoice to talk of it.  All that she could tell
she told most gladly, but the all was little for one who had been
there, and unsatisfactory for such an enquirer as Mrs Smith, who had
already heard, through the short cut of a laundress and a waiter,
rather more of the general success and produce of the evening than Anne
could relate, and who now asked in vain for several particulars of the
company.  Everybody of any consequence or notoriety in Bath was well
know by name to Mrs Smith.

"The little Durands were there, I conclude," said she, "with their
mouths open to catch the music, like unfledged sparrows ready to be
fed.  They never miss a concert."

"Yes; I did not see them myself, but I heard Mr Elliot say they were in
the room."

"The Ibbotsons, were they there? and the two new beauties, with the
tall Irish officer, who is talked of for one of them."

"I do not know.  I do not think they were."

"Old Lady Mary Maclean?  I need not ask after her.  She never misses, I
know; and you must have seen her.  She must have been in your own
circle; for as you went with Lady Dalrymple, you were in the seats of
grandeur, round the orchestra, of course."

"No, that was what I dreaded.  It would have been very unpleasant to me
in every respect.  But happily Lady Dalrymple always chooses to be
farther off; and we were exceedingly well placed, that is, for hearing;
I must not say for seeing, because I appear to have seen very little."

"Oh! you saw enough for your own amusement.  I can understand.  There
is a sort of domestic enjoyment to be known even in a crowd, and this
you had.  You were a large party in yourselves, and you wanted nothing
beyond."

"But I ought to have looked about me more," said Anne, conscious while
she spoke that there had in fact been no want of looking about, that
the object only had been deficient.

"No, no; you were better employed.  You need not tell me that you had a
pleasant evening.  I see it in your eye.  I perfectly see how the hours
passed:  that you had always something agreeable to listen to.  In the
intervals of the concert it was conversation."

Anne half smiled and said, "Do you see that in my eye?"

"Yes, I do.  Your countenance perfectly informs me that you were in
company last night with the person whom you think the most agreeable in
the world, the person who interests you at this present time more than
all the rest of the world put together."

A blush overspread Anne's cheeks.  She could say nothing.

"And such being the case," continued Mrs Smith, after a short pause, "I
hope you believe that I do know how to value your kindness in coming to
me this morning.  It is really very good of you to come and sit with
me, when you must have so many pleasanter demands upon your time."

Anne heard nothing of this.  She was still in the astonishment and
confusion excited by her friend's penetration, unable to imagine how
any report of Captain Wentworth could have reached her.  After another
short silence--

"Pray," said Mrs Smith, "is Mr Elliot aware of your acquaintance with
me?  Does he know that I am in Bath?"

"Mr Elliot!" repeated Anne, looking up surprised.  A moment's
reflection shewed her the mistake she had been under.  She caught it
instantaneously; and recovering her courage with the feeling of safety,
soon added, more composedly, "Are you acquainted with Mr Elliot?"

"I have been a good deal acquainted with him," replied Mrs Smith,
gravely, "but it seems worn out now.  It is a great while since we met."

"I was not at all aware of this.  You never mentioned it before.  Had I
known it, I would have had the pleasure of talking to him about you."

"To confess the truth," said Mrs Smith, assuming her usual air of
cheerfulness, "that is exactly the pleasure I want you to have.  I want
you to talk about me to Mr Elliot.  I want your interest with him.  He
can be of essential service to me; and if you would have the goodness,
my dear Miss Elliot, to make it an object to yourself, of course it is
done."

"I should be extremely happy; I hope you cannot doubt my willingness to
be of even the slightest use to you," replied Anne; "but I suspect that
you are considering me as having a higher claim on Mr Elliot, a greater
right to influence him, than is really the case.  I am sure you have,
somehow or other, imbibed such a notion.  You must consider me only as
Mr Elliot's relation.  If in that light there is anything which you
suppose his cousin might fairly ask of him, I beg you would not
hesitate to employ me."

Mrs Smith gave her a penetrating glance, and then, smiling, said--

"I have been a little premature, I perceive; I beg your pardon.  I
ought to have waited for official information,  But now, my dear Miss
Elliot, as an old friend, do give me a hint as to when I may speak.
Next week?  To be sure by next week I may be allowed to think it all
settled, and build my own selfish schemes on Mr Elliot's good fortune."

"No," replied Anne, "nor next week, nor next, nor next.  I assure you
that nothing of the sort you are thinking of will be settled any week.
I am not going to marry Mr Elliot.  I should like to know why you
imagine I am?"

Mrs Smith looked at her again, looked earnestly, smiled, shook her
head, and exclaimed--

"Now, how I do wish I understood you!  How I do wish I knew what you
were at!  I have a great idea that you do not design to be cruel, when
the right moment occurs.  Till it does come, you know, we women never
mean to have anybody.  It is a thing of course among us, that every man
is refused, till he offers.  But why should you be cruel?  Let me plead
for my--present friend I cannot call him, but for my former friend.
Where can you look for a more suitable match?  Where could you expect a
more gentlemanlike, agreeable man?  Let me recommend Mr Elliot.  I am
sure you hear nothing but good of him from Colonel Wallis; and who can
know him better than Colonel Wallis?"

"My dear Mrs Smith, Mr Elliot's wife has not been dead much above half
a year.  He ought not to be supposed to be paying his addresses to any
one."

"Oh! if these are your only objections," cried Mrs Smith, archly, "Mr
Elliot is safe, and I shall give myself no more trouble about him.  Do
not forget me when you are married, that's all.  Let him know me to be
a friend of yours, and then he will think little of the trouble
required, which it is very natural for him now, with so many affairs
and engagements of his own, to avoid and get rid of as he can; very
natural, perhaps.  Ninety-nine out of a hundred would do the same.  Of
course, he cannot be aware of the importance to me.  Well, my dear Miss
Elliot, I hope and trust you will be very happy.  Mr Elliot has sense
to understand the value of such a woman.  Your peace will not be
shipwrecked as mine has been.  You are safe in all worldly matters, and
safe in his character.  He will not be led astray; he will not be
misled by others to his ruin."

"No," said Anne, "I can readily believe all that of my cousin.  He
seems to have a calm decided temper, not at all open to dangerous
impressions.  I consider him with great respect.  I have no reason,
from any thing that has fallen within my observation, to do otherwise.
But I have not known him long; and he is not a man, I think, to be
known intimately soon.  Will not this manner of speaking of him, Mrs
Smith, convince you that he is nothing to me?  Surely this must be calm
enough.  And, upon my word, he is nothing to me.  Should he ever
propose to me (which I have very little reason to imagine he has any
thought of doing), I shall not accept him.  I assure you I shall not.
I assure you, Mr Elliot had not the share which you have been
supposing, in whatever pleasure the concert of last night might afford:
not Mr Elliot; it is not Mr Elliot that--"

She stopped, regretting with a deep blush that she had implied so much;
but less would hardly have been sufficient.  Mrs Smith would hardly
have believed so soon in Mr Elliot's failure, but from the perception
of there being a somebody else.  As it was, she instantly submitted,
and with all the semblance of seeing nothing beyond; and Anne, eager to
escape farther notice, was impatient to know why Mrs Smith should have
fancied she was to marry Mr Elliot; where she could have received the
idea, or from whom she could have heard it.

"Do tell me how it first came into your head."

"It first came into my head," replied Mrs Smith, "upon finding how much
you were together, and feeling it to be the most probable thing in the
world to be wished for by everybody belonging to either of you; and you
may depend upon it that all your acquaintance have disposed of you in
the same way.  But I never heard it spoken of till two days ago."

"And has it indeed been spoken of?"

"Did you observe the woman who opened the door to you when you called
yesterday?"

"No.  Was not it Mrs Speed, as usual, or the maid?  I observed no one
in particular."

"It was my friend Mrs Rooke; Nurse Rooke; who, by-the-bye, had a great
curiosity to see you, and was delighted to be in the way to let you in.
She came away from Marlborough Buildings only on Sunday; and she it was
who told me you were to marry Mr Elliot.  She had had it from Mrs
Wallis herself, which did not seem bad authority.  She sat an hour with
me on Monday evening, and gave me the whole history." "The whole
history," repeated Anne, laughing.  "She could not make a very long
history, I think, of one such little article of unfounded news."

Mrs Smith said nothing.

"But," continued Anne, presently, "though there is no truth in my
having this claim on Mr Elliot, I should be extremely happy to be of
use to you in any way that I could.  Shall I mention to him your being
in Bath?  Shall I take any message?"

"No, I thank you:  no, certainly not.  In the warmth of the moment, and
under a mistaken impression, I might, perhaps, have endeavoured to
interest you in some circumstances; but not now.  No, I thank you, I
have nothing to trouble you with."

"I think you spoke of having known Mr Elliot many years?"

"I did."

"Not before he was married, I suppose?"

"Yes; he was not married when I knew him first."

"And--were you much acquainted?"

"Intimately."

"Indeed!  Then do tell me what he was at that time of life.  I have a
great curiosity to know what Mr Elliot was as a very young man.  Was he
at all such as he appears now?"

"I have not seen Mr Elliot these three years," was Mrs Smith's answer,
given so gravely that it was impossible to pursue the subject farther;
and Anne felt that she had gained nothing but an increase of curiosity.
They were both silent:  Mrs Smith very thoughtful.  At last--

"I beg your pardon, my dear Miss Elliot," she cried, in her natural
tone of cordiality, "I beg your pardon for the short answers I have
been giving you, but I have been uncertain what I ought to do.  I have
been doubting and considering as to what I ought to tell you.  There
were many things to be taken into the account.  One hates to be
officious, to be giving bad impressions, making mischief.  Even the
smooth surface of family-union seems worth preserving, though there may
be nothing durable beneath.  However, I have determined; I think I am
right; I think you ought to be made acquainted with Mr Elliot's real
character.  Though I fully believe that, at present, you have not the
smallest intention of accepting him, there is no saying what may
happen.  You might, some time or other, be differently affected towards
him.  Hear the truth, therefore, now, while you are unprejudiced.  Mr
Elliot is a man without heart or conscience; a designing, wary,
cold-blooded being, who thinks only of himself; whom for his own
interest or ease, would be guilty of any cruelty, or any treachery,
that could be perpetrated without risk of his general character.  He
has no feeling for others.  Those whom he has been the chief cause of
leading into ruin, he can neglect and desert without the smallest
compunction.  He is totally beyond the reach of any sentiment of
justice or compassion.  Oh! he is black at heart, hollow and black!"

Anne's astonished air, and exclamation of wonder, made her pause, and
in a calmer manner, she added,

"My expressions startle you.  You must allow for an injured, angry
woman.  But I will try to command myself.  I will not abuse him.  I
will only tell you what I have found him.  Facts shall speak.  He was
the intimate friend of my dear husband, who trusted and loved him, and
thought him as good as himself.  The intimacy had been formed before
our marriage.  I found them most intimate friends; and I, too, became
excessively pleased with Mr Elliot, and entertained the highest opinion
of him.  At nineteen, you know, one does not think very seriously; but
Mr Elliot appeared to me quite as good as others, and much more
agreeable than most others, and we were almost always together.  We
were principally in town, living in very good style.  He was then the
inferior in circumstances; he was then the poor one; he had chambers in
the Temple, and it was as much as he could do to support the appearance
of a gentleman.  He had always a home with us whenever he chose it; he
was always welcome; he was like a brother.  My poor Charles, who had
the finest, most generous spirit in the world, would have divided his
last farthing with him; and I know that his purse was open to him; I
know that he often assisted him."

"This must have been about that very period of Mr Elliot's life," said
Anne, "which has always excited my particular curiosity.  It must have
been about the same time that he became known to my father and sister.
I never knew him myself; I only heard of him; but there was a something
in his conduct then, with regard to my father and sister, and
afterwards in the circumstances of his marriage, which I never could
quite reconcile with present times.  It seemed to announce a different
sort of man."

"I know it all, I know it all," cried Mrs Smith.  "He had been
introduced to Sir Walter and your sister before I was acquainted with
him, but I heard him speak of them for ever.  I know he was invited and
encouraged, and I know he did not choose to go.  I can satisfy you,
perhaps, on points which you would little expect; and as to his
marriage, I knew all about it at the time.  I was privy to all the fors
and againsts; I was the friend to whom he confided his hopes and plans;
and though I did not know his wife previously, her inferior situation
in society, indeed, rendered that impossible, yet I knew her all her
life afterwards, or at least till within the last two years of her
life, and can answer any question you may wish to put."

"Nay," said Anne, "I have no particular enquiry to make about her.  I
have always understood they were not a happy couple.  But I should like
to know why, at that time of his life, he should slight my father's
acquaintance as he did.  My father was certainly disposed to take very
kind and proper notice of him.  Why did Mr Elliot draw back?"

"Mr Elliot," replied Mrs Smith, "at that period of his life, had one
object in view:  to make his fortune, and by a rather quicker process
than the law.  He was determined to make it by marriage.  He was
determined, at least, not to mar it by an imprudent marriage; and I
know it was his belief (whether justly or not, of course I cannot
decide), that your father and sister, in their civilities and
invitations, were designing a match between the heir and the young
lady, and it was impossible that such a match should have answered his
ideas of wealth and independence.  That was his motive for drawing
back, I can assure you.  He told me the whole story.  He had no
concealments with me.  It was curious, that having just left you behind
me in Bath, my first and principal acquaintance on marrying should be
your cousin; and that, through him, I should be continually hearing of
your father and sister.  He described one Miss Elliot, and I thought
very affectionately of the other."

"Perhaps," cried Anne, struck by a sudden idea, "you sometimes spoke of
me to Mr Elliot?"

"To be sure I did; very often.  I used to boast of my own Anne Elliot,
and vouch for your being a very different creature from--"

She checked herself just in time.

"This accounts for something which Mr Elliot said last night," cried
Anne.  "This explains it.  I found he had been used to hear of me.  I
could not comprehend how.  What wild imaginations one forms where dear
self is concerned!  How sure to be mistaken!  But I beg your pardon; I
have interrupted you.  Mr Elliot married then completely for money?
The circumstances, probably, which first opened your eyes to his
character."

Mrs Smith hesitated a little here.  "Oh! those things are too common.
When one lives in the world, a man or woman's marrying for money is too
common to strike one as it ought.  I was very young, and associated
only with the young, and we were a thoughtless, gay set, without any
strict rules of conduct.  We lived for enjoyment.  I think differently
now; time and sickness and sorrow have given me other notions; but at
that period I must own I saw nothing reprehensible in what Mr Elliot
was doing.  'To do the best for himself,' passed as a duty."

"But was not she a very low woman?"

"Yes; which I objected to, but he would not regard.  Money, money, was
all that he wanted.  Her father was a grazier, her grandfather had been
a butcher, but that was all nothing.  She was a fine woman, had had a
decent education, was brought forward by some cousins, thrown by chance
into Mr Elliot's company, and fell in love with him; and not a
difficulty or a scruple was there on his side, with respect to her
birth.  All his caution was spent in being secured of the real amount
of her fortune, before he committed himself.  Depend upon it, whatever
esteem Mr Elliot may have for his own situation in life now, as a young
man he had not the smallest value for it.  His chance for the Kellynch
estate was something, but all the honour of the family he held as cheap
as dirt.  I have often heard him declare, that if baronetcies were
saleable, anybody should have his for fifty pounds, arms and motto,
name and livery included; but I will not pretend to repeat half that I
used to hear him say on that subject.  It would not be fair; and yet
you ought to have proof, for what is all this but assertion, and you
shall have proof."

"Indeed, my dear Mrs Smith, I want none," cried Anne.  "You have
asserted nothing contradictory to what Mr Elliot appeared to be some
years ago.  This is all in confirmation, rather, of what we used to
hear and believe.  I am more curious to know why he should be so
different now."

"But for my satisfaction, if you will have the goodness to ring for
Mary; stay:  I am sure you will have the still greater goodness of
going yourself into my bedroom, and bringing me the small inlaid box
which you will find on the upper shelf of the closet."

Anne, seeing her friend to be earnestly bent on it, did as she was
desired.  The box was brought and placed before her, and Mrs Smith,
sighing over it as she unlocked it, said--

"This is full of papers belonging to him, to my husband; a small
portion only of what I had to look over when I lost him.  The letter I
am looking for was one written by Mr Elliot to him before our marriage,
and happened to be saved; why, one can hardly imagine.  But he was
careless and immethodical, like other men, about those things; and when
I came to examine his papers, I found it with others still more
trivial, from different people scattered here and there, while many
letters and memorandums of real importance had been destroyed.  Here it
is; I would not burn it, because being even then very little satisfied
with Mr Elliot, I was determined to preserve every document of former
intimacy.  I have now another motive for being glad that I can produce
it."

This was the letter, directed to "Charles Smith, Esq. Tunbridge Wells,"
and dated from London, as far back as July, 1803:--

"Dear Smith,--I have received yours.  Your kindness almost overpowers
me.  I wish nature had made such hearts as yours more common, but I
have lived three-and-twenty years in the world, and have seen none like
it.  At present, believe me, I have no need of your services, being in
cash again.  Give me joy:  I have got rid of Sir Walter and Miss.  They
are gone back to Kellynch, and almost made me swear to visit them this
summer; but my first visit to Kellynch will be with a surveyor, to tell
me how to bring it with best advantage to the hammer.  The baronet,
nevertheless, is not unlikely to marry again; he is quite fool enough.
If he does, however, they will leave me in peace, which may be a decent
equivalent  for the reversion.  He is worse than last year.

"I wish I had any name but Elliot.  I am sick of it.  The name of
Walter I can drop, thank God! and I desire you will never insult me
with my second W. again, meaning, for the rest of my life, to be only
yours truly,--Wm. Elliot."

Such a letter could not be read without putting Anne in a glow; and Mrs
Smith, observing the high colour in her face, said--

"The language, I know, is highly disrespectful.  Though I have forgot
the exact terms, I have a perfect impression of the general meaning.
But it shows you the man.  Mark his professions to my poor husband.
Can any thing be stronger?"

Anne could not immediately get over the shock and mortification of
finding such words applied to her father.  She was obliged to recollect
that her seeing the letter was a violation of the laws of honour, that
no one ought to be judged or to be known by such testimonies, that no
private correspondence could bear the eye of others, before she could
recover calmness enough to return the letter which she had been
meditating over, and say--

"Thank you.  This is full proof undoubtedly; proof of every thing you
were saying.  But why be acquainted with us now?"

"I can explain this too," cried Mrs Smith, smiling.

"Can you really?"

"Yes.  I have shewn you Mr Elliot as he was a dozen years ago, and I
will shew him as he is now.  I cannot produce written proof again, but
I can give as authentic oral testimony as you can desire, of what he is
now wanting, and what he is now doing.  He is no hypocrite now.  He
truly wants to marry you.  His present attentions to your family are
very sincere:  quite from the heart.  I will give you my authority: his
friend Colonel Wallis."

"Colonel Wallis! you are acquainted with him?"

"No.  It does not come to me in quite so direct a line as that; it
takes a bend or two, but nothing of consequence.  The stream is as good
as at first; the little rubbish it collects in the turnings is easily
moved away.  Mr Elliot talks unreservedly to Colonel Wallis of his
views on you, which said Colonel Wallis, I imagine to be, in himself, a
sensible, careful, discerning sort of character; but Colonel Wallis has
a very pretty silly wife, to whom he tells things which he had better
not, and he repeats it all to her.  She in the overflowing spirits of
her recovery, repeats it all to her nurse; and the nurse  knowing my
acquaintance with you, very naturally brings it all to me.  On Monday
evening, my good friend Mrs Rooke let me thus much into the secrets of
Marlborough Buildings.  When I talked of a whole history, therefore,
you see I was not romancing so much as you supposed."

"My dear Mrs Smith, your authority is deficient.  This will not do.  Mr
Elliot's having any views on me will not in the least account for the
efforts he made towards a reconciliation with my father.  That was all
prior to my coming to Bath.  I found them on the most friendly terms
when I arrived."

"I know you did; I know it all perfectly, but--"

"Indeed, Mrs Smith, we must not expect to get real information in such
a line.  Facts or opinions which are to pass through the hands of so
many, to be misconceived by folly in one, and ignorance in another, can
hardly have much truth left."

"Only give me a hearing.  You will soon be able to judge of the general
credit due, by listening to some particulars which you can yourself
immediately contradict or confirm.  Nobody supposes that you were his
first inducement.  He had seen you indeed, before he came to Bath, and
admired you, but without knowing it to be you.  So says my historian,
at least.  Is this true?  Did he see you last summer or autumn,
'somewhere down in the west,' to use her own words, without knowing it
to be you?"

"He certainly did.  So far it is very true.  At Lyme.  I happened to be
at Lyme."

"Well," continued Mrs Smith, triumphantly, "grant my friend the credit
due to the establishment of the first point asserted.  He saw you then
at Lyme, and liked you so well as to be exceedingly pleased to meet
with you again in Camden Place, as Miss Anne Elliot, and from that
moment, I have no doubt, had a double motive in his visits there.  But
there was another, and an earlier, which I will now explain.  If there
is anything in my story which you know to be either false or
improbable, stop me.  My account states, that your sister's friend, the
lady now staying with you, whom I have heard you mention, came to Bath
with Miss Elliot and Sir Walter as long ago as September (in short when
they first came themselves), and has been staying there ever since;
that she is a clever, insinuating, handsome woman, poor and plausible,
and altogether such in situation and manner, as to give a general idea,
among Sir Walter's acquaintance, of her meaning to be Lady Elliot, and
as general a surprise that Miss Elliot should be apparently, blind to
the danger."

Here Mrs Smith paused a moment; but Anne had not a word to say, and she
continued--

"This was the light in which it appeared to those who knew the family,
long before you returned to it; and Colonel Wallis had his eye upon
your father enough to be sensible of it, though he did not then visit
in Camden Place; but his regard for Mr Elliot gave him an interest in
watching all that was going on there, and when Mr Elliot came to Bath
for a day or two, as he happened to do a little before Christmas,
Colonel Wallis made him acquainted with the appearance of things, and
the reports beginning to prevail.  Now you are to understand, that time
had worked a very material change in Mr Elliot's opinions as to the
value of a baronetcy.  Upon all points of blood and connexion he is a
completely altered man.  Having long had as much money as he could
spend, nothing to wish for on the side of avarice or indulgence, he has
been gradually learning to pin his happiness upon the consequence he is
heir to.  I thought it coming on before our acquaintance ceased, but it
is now a confirmed feeling.  He cannot bear the idea of not being Sir
William.  You may guess, therefore, that the news he heard from his
friend could not be very agreeable, and you may guess what it produced;
the resolution of coming back to Bath as soon as possible, and of
fixing himself here for a time, with the view of renewing his former
acquaintance, and recovering such a footing in the family as might give
him the means of ascertaining the degree of his danger, and of
circumventing the lady if he found it material.  This was agreed upon
between the two friends as the only thing to be done; and Colonel
Wallis was to assist in every way that he could.  He was to be
introduced, and Mrs Wallis was to be introduced, and everybody was to
be introduced.  Mr Elliot came back accordingly; and on application was
forgiven, as you know, and re-admitted into the family; and there it
was his constant object, and his only object (till your arrival added
another motive), to watch Sir Walter and Mrs Clay.  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 straitened 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.



　　第二天早晨，安妮愉快地记起她答应去看望史密斯夫人，这就是说，在埃利奥特先生很有可能来访的时候，她可以不呆在家里，而避开埃利奥特先生简直成了她的首要目标。
　　她对他还是十分友好的。尽管他的献殷勤成了祸根，但她对他还是非常感激，非常尊重，也许还颇为同情。她情不自禁地要常常想到他们结识时的种种奇特情况，想到他凭着自己的地位、感情和对她早就有所偏爱，似乎也有权利引起她的兴趣。这件事太异乎寻常了，既讨人欢喜，又惹人痛苦。真叫人感到遗憾。此事若是没有温特沃思上校她会觉得怎么样，这个问题无需再问，因为事实上是有位温特沃思上校。目前这种悬而未决的状况不管结局是好是坏，她将永远钟情于他。她相信，他们无论是结合还是最终分手，都不能使她再同别的男人亲近。
　　安妮怀着热烈而忠贞不渝的爱情，从卡姆登巷向西门大楼走去，巴思的街道上不可能有过比这更美好的情思，简直给一路上洒下了纯净的芳香。
　　她准知道自己会受到愉快的接待。她的朋友今天早晨似乎特别感激她的到来，虽说她们有约在先，但她好像并不指望她能来。
　　史密斯夫人马上要她介绍音乐会的情况。安妮兴致勃勃地回忆了起来，史密斯夫人听得笑逐颜开，不由得十分乐意谈论这次音乐会。但凡能说的，安妮都高高兴兴地告诉她了。但是她所叙述的这一切，对于——个参加过音乐会的人来说，那是微不足道的，而对于史密斯夫人这样的询问者来说，则是不能令人满意的，因为有关晚会如何成功，都演了些什么节日，她早就从一位洗衣女工和一位侍者那里听说了，而且比安妮说得还详细。她现在询问的是与会者的某些具体情况，可是徒劳无益。在巴思，不管是举足轻重的人，还是声名狼藉的人，史密斯夫人个个都能说出名字。
　　“我断定，小杜兰德一家人都去了，”她说，“张着嘴巴听音乐，像是羽毛未丰的小麻雀等着喂食。他们从来不错过一次音乐会。”
　　“是的。我没见到他们，不过我听埃利奥特先生说，他们就在音乐厅里。”
　　“伊博森一家去了吗？还有那两个新到的美人和那个高个子爱尔兰军官，据说他要娶她们其中的一个。他们也到了吗？”
　　“我不知道。我想他们没去。”
　　“玛丽·麦克莱恩老太太呢？我不必打听她啦。我知道她是从不缺席的。你一定看见她了。她一定就在你那个圈圈里，因为你是同达尔林普尔夫人一起去的，不用说就坐在乐队附近的雅座上。”
　　“不，我就怕坐雅座。无论从哪个方面看，那都会叫人觉得不自在。幸好达尔林普尔夫人总是愿意坐得远一些。我们坐的地方好极了，这是就听音乐而言的，从观看的角度就不能这么说了，因为我好像没有看见什么。”
　　“哦！你看见的东西够你开心的了。我心里明白。即使在人群之中也能感到一种家庭的乐趣，这你是深有感受的。你们本身就是一大帮子人，除此之外没有更多的要求。”
　　“我应该多留心一下四周，”安妮说。她说这话的时候心里明白，她其实没有少四下留心，只是没怎么见到目标罢了。
　　“不，不。你在做更有意义的事情。不用你说，你昨天晚上过得很愉快，我从你的眼神里看得出来。我完全清楚你的时间是怎么度过的。你自始至终都有悦耳的歌曲可以倾听。音乐会休息的时候可以聊聊天。”
　　安妮勉强笑笑说：“这是你从我的眼神里看出来的？”
　　“是的，的确如此。你的面部表情清清楚楚地告诉我，你昨天晚上是和你认为的世界上最讨人喜爱的那个人呆在一起，这个人现在比世界上所有的人加在一起还更能引起你的兴趣。”
　　安妮脸上刷地一红。她哑口无言了。
　　“情况既然如此，”史密斯夫人稍停了停，然后说道，“我希望你尽管相信，我懂得如何珍惜你今天上午来看我的情分。你本该有那么多更愉快的事情要做，却来陪伴我，你真是太好了。”
　　这话安妮一点也没听见。她的朋友的洞察力仍然使她感到惊讶和狼狈。她无法想象，关于温特沃思上校的传闻怎么会刮到她的耳朵里。又沉默了一会之后，史密斯夫人说：
　　“请问，埃利奥特先生知不知道你认识我？他知不知道我在巴思？”
　　“埃利奥特先生！”安妮重复了一声，一面惊奇地抬起头来。她沉思了片刻，知道自己领会错了。她顿时醒悟过来，觉得保险了，便又恢复了勇气，马上更加泰然地说道：“你认识埃利奥特先生？”
　　“我与他非常熟悉，”史密斯夫人神情严肃地答道，“不过现在看来疏远了。我们好久未见了。”
　　“我根本不了解这个情况。你以前从未说起过。我要是早知道的话，就会与他谈起你。”
　　“说真话，”史密斯夫人恢复了她平常的快活神气，说道，“这正是我对你的希望。我希望你向埃利奥特先生谈起我。我希望你对他施加点影响。他能够帮我的大忙。亲爱的埃利奥特小姐，你要是有心帮忙的话，这事当然好办。”
　　“我感到万分高兴。希望你不要怀疑我还愿意为你帮点忙，”安妮答逭，“不过，我怀疑你违背实际情况，高估了我对埃利奥特先生的情意，高估了我对他的影响。我想你肯定抱有这样的看法。你应该把我仅仅看成埃利奥特先生的亲戚。从这个观点出发，你如果认为我可以向他提出什么正当的要求，请你毫不犹豫地吩咐我好啦。”
　　史密斯夫人用锐利的目光瞥了她一眼，然后笑吟吟地说道：
　　“我想我有点操之过急，请你原谅。我应该到有了确凿消息再说。可是现在，亲爱的埃利奥特小姐，看在老朋友的分上，请你给我个暗示，我什么时候可以开口。下一周？毫无疑问，到了下周我总可以认为全定下来了吧，可以托埃利奥特先生的福气谋点私利。”
　　“不，”安妮回道，“不是下周，不是下下周，也不是再下下周。实话对你说吧，你设想的那种事情哪一周也定不下来。我不会嫁给埃利奥特先生。我倒想知道，你怎么设想我会嫁给他？”
　　史密斯夫人又朝她看去，看得很认真，笑了笑，摇摇头，然后嚷道：
　　“唉，我真希望我能摸透你的心思]我真希望我知道你说这些话用意何在！我心里很有数，等到恰当的时机，你就不会存心冷酷无情了。你知道，不到恰当的时机，我们女人决不想要任何人。理所当然，对于每一个男人，只要他没提出求婚，我们都要拒绝。不过你为什么要冷酷无情呢？我不能把他称作我现在的朋友，但他是我以前的朋友，让我为他申辩几句。你到哪里能找到个更合适的女婿？你到哪里能遇上个更有绅士派头、更和蔼可亲的男人？我要推举他。我敢断定，你听沃利斯上校说起来，他全是好处。有谁能比沃利斯上校更了解他？”
　　“我亲爱的史密斯夫人，埃利奥特先生的妻子才死了半年多一点。他不该向任何人求爱。”
　　“哦，你要是仅仅认为这有些不妥，”她狡黠地嚷道，“那埃利奥特先生就十拿九稳了，我也犯不着再替他担忧啦。我只想说，你们结婚的时候可别忘了我。让他知道我是你的朋友，那时候他就会认为麻烦他干点事算不了什么，只是现在有许多事情、许多约会要应酬，他非常自然地要尽量避免、摆脱这种麻烦。这也许是很自然的。一百个人里有九十九个是要这么做的。当然，他认识不到这对我有多么重要。好啦，亲爱的埃利奥特小姐，我希望而且相信你会十分幸福的。埃利奥特先生很有见识，懂得你这样一个女人的价值。你的安宁不会像我的那样遭到毁灭。你不用为世事担忧，不用为他的品格担忧。他不会被引入歧途，不会被人引向毁灭。”
　　“是的，”安妮说，“我完全相信我堂兄的这一切。看样子，他性情冷静坚毅，决不会受到危险思想的影响。我对他十分尊敬。从我观察到的现象来看，我没有理由不尊敬他。不过，我认识他的时间不长，我想他也不是个很快就能亲近的人。史密斯夫人，听我这样谈论他，你还不相信他对我是无足轻重的？的确，我说这话时心里是够冷静的。说实话，他对我是无足轻重的。假如他向我求婚的话（我没有理由认为他想这样做），我不会答应他的。我肯定不会答应他。老实对你说吧，昨天晚上的音乐会不管有些什么乐趣，你总以为有埃利奥特先生的一份功劳，其实这没有他的份儿。不是埃利奥特先生，的确不是埃利奥特先生……”
　　她煞住话头，脸上涨得通红，后悔自己话中有话地说得太多，不过说少了可能又不行。史密斯夫人若不是察觉还有个别的什么人，很难马上相信埃利奥特先生碰了壁。事实上，她当即认输了，而且装出一副没听出弦外之音的样子。安妮急欲避开史密斯夫人的进一步追问，急欲知道她为何设想她要嫁给埃利奥特先生，她从哪里得到了这个念头，或者从谁那里听说的。
　　“请告诉我，你最初是怎样兴起这个念头的？”
　　“我最初兴起这个念头，”史密斯夫人答道，“是发现你们经常在一起，觉得这是你们双方每个人所祈望的最有益的事情。你尽管相信我好啦，你所有的朋友都是这么看待你的。不过，我直到两天前才听人说起。”
　　“这事真有人说起吗？”
　　“你昨天来看我的时候，有没有注意到给你开门的那个女人？”
　　“没有。难道不照例是斯皮德夫人，或是那位女仆？我没有特别注意到什么人。”
　　“那是我的朋友鲁克夫人，鲁克护士。顺便说一句，她非常想见见你，很高兴能为你开开门。她星期天才离开马尔巴勒大楼。就是她告诉我，你要嫁给埃利奥特先生。她是听沃利斯夫人亲口说的，沃利斯夫人恐怕不是没有依据的。鲁克夫人星期一晚上陪我坐了一个钟头，她把整个来龙去脉都告诉了我。”
　　“整个来龙去脉！”安妮重复道，一面放声笑了。“我想，这凭着一小条无根无据的消息，她编不出多少故事来。”
　　史密斯夫人没有吱声。
　　“不过，”安妮随即接着说道，“虽说我事实上并不要嫁给埃利奥特先生，但我还是十分愿意以我力所能及的任何方式帮你的忙。我要不要向他提起你就在巴思？要不要给他捎个口信？”
　　“不，谢谢你。不，当然不必。本来，出于一时的冲动，加上又闹了场误会，我也许会告诉你一些情况，可是现在不行了。不，谢谢你，我没有什么事情要麻烦你的。”
　　“我想你说过你同埃利奥特先生认识多年了？”
　　“是的。”
　　“我想不是在他结婚前吧？”
　　“是在他结婚前。我最初认识他的时候，他还没结婚。”
　　“你们很熟悉吗？”
　　“非常熟悉。”
　　“真的！那么请你告诉我，他那时候是怎样一个人。我很想知道埃利奥特先生年轻的时候是怎样一个人。他当年是不是现在这个样子？”
　　“近三年来我一直没看见埃利奥特先生，”史密斯夫人回答说，口气很严肃，这个话头也就不好再追问下去了。安妮觉得一无所获，越发增加了好奇心。两人都默默不语，史密斯夫人思虑重重。终于……
　　“请你原谅，亲爱的埃利奥特小姐，”史密斯夫人用她那天生的热诚口气嚷道，“请原谅，我给你的回答很简短，不过我实在不知道该怎么办。我心里拿不准，一直在思虑着应该怎样对你说。有很多问题需要考虑。人们都讨厌好管闲事，搬弄是非，挑拨离间。家庭的和睦即使是表面现象，似乎也值得保持下去，虽然内里并没有什么持久的东西。不过我已经打定了主意。我认为我是对的。我认为应该让你了解一下埃利奥特先生的真实品格。虽然我完全相信你现在丝毫无心接受他的求爱，但很难说会出现什么情况。你说不定有朝一日会改变对他的感情。因此，现在趁你不带偏见的时候，你还是听听事实真相。埃利奥特先生是个没有情感、没有良心的男人，是个谨小慎微、诡计多端、残酷无情的家伙，光会替自己打算。他为了自己的利益或舒适，只要不危及自己的整个声誉，什么冷酷无情的事情，什么背信弃义的勾当，他都干得出来。他对别人没有感情。对于那些主要由他导致毁灭的人，他可以毫不理睬，一脚踢开，而丝毫不受良心的责备。他完全没有什么正义感和同情心。唉！他的心是黑的，既虚伪又狠毒！”
　　安妮带着诧异的神色惊叫起来，史密斯夫人不由得顿了一下，然后更加镇定地接着说道：
　　“我的话使你大吃一惊。你得原谅一个受害的愤怒的女人。不过我要尽量克制自己。我不想辱骂他。我只想告诉你我发现他是怎么个人。事实最能说明问题。他是我亲爱的丈夫的莫逆之交，我丈夫信任他，喜爱他，把他看作像他自己那样好。他们之间的亲密关系在我们结婚以前就建立起来了。我发现他们十分亲密，于是我也极为喜欢埃利奥特先生，对他推崇备至。你知道，人在十九岁是不会认真思考的。在我看来，埃利奥特先生像其他人一样好，比大多数人都可爱得多，因此我们几乎总是在一起。我们主要住在城里，日子过得非常体面。埃利奥特先生当时的境况比较差，是个穷光蛋。他只能在教堂里寄宿，好不容易摆出一副绅士的样子。他只要愿意，随时都可以住到我们家里，我们总是欢迎他的，待他亲如兄弟。我那可怜的查尔斯是天下最慷慨的大好人，他就是剩下最后一枚四分之一便士的硬币，也会同他分着用。我知道他的钱包是向埃利奥特先生敞开的。我知道他经常资助他。”
　　“想必大约就在这个时期，”安妮说，“埃利奥特先生总是使我感到特别好奇。想必大约在这同时，我父亲和我姐姐认识了他。我自己一直不认识他，只是听说过他。不过，他当时对我父亲和我姐姐的态度以及后来结婚的情况都有些蹊跷，我觉得与现在的情况很不协调。这似乎表明他是另外一种人。”
　　“这我都知道，这我都知道，”史密斯夫人大声叫道。“在我结识他之前，他就认识了沃尔特爵士和你姐姐，我总是听他没完没了地说起他俩。我知道他受到邀请和鼓励，我也知道他不肯去。也许我可以向你提供一些你根本想象不到的细节。对于他的婚事，我当时了解得一清二楚。他追求什么，厌弃什么，我都统统知道。我是他的知心朋友，他向我倾诉了他的希望和打算。虽说我先前不认识他妻子（她的社会地位低下，使我不可能认识她），然而我了解她后来的情况，至少了解到她一生中最后两年的情况，因而能够回答你想提出的任何问题。”
　　“不，”安妮说，“我对她没有什么特别要问的。我一向听说他们不是一对幸福的夫妻。不过我想知道，他那个时候为什么会不屑于同我父亲交往。我父亲对他当然很客气，想给他以妥善的照顾。埃利奥特先生为什么不愿与我父亲交往呢？”
　　“那个时候，”史密斯夫人答道，“埃利奥特先生心里抱着一个目标，就是要发财致富，而且要通过比做律师更快当的途径。他决心通过结婚来达到目的。他至少决心不让一门轻率的婚事毁了他的生财之路。我知道他有这样的看法（当然我无法断定是否真有道理），认为你父亲和你姐姐客客气气地一再邀请，是想让继承人与年轻小姐结成姻缘，而这样一门亲事却不可能满足他要发财致富和独立自主的思想。我可以向你担保，这就是他避免来往的动机所在。他把全部内情都告诉我了，对我一点也没隐瞒。真奇怪，我在巴思刚刚离开你，结婚后遇到的第一个也是最重要的朋友就是你的堂兄，从他那里不断听到你父亲和你姐姐的情况。他描述了一位埃利奥特小姐，我却十分亲呢地想到了另一位。”
　　“也许，”安妮心里猛然省悟，便大声说道，“你时常向埃利奥特先生说起我吧？”
　　“我当然说过，而且经常说。我常常夸奖我的安妮·埃利奥特，说你大不同于……”
　　她突然煞住了口。
　　“埃利奥特先生昨晚说那话，原来是这个缘故，”安妮嚷道。“这就好解释了。我发现他经常听人说起我。我不理解是怎么回事。人一遇到与已有关的事情，可真能想入非非的！到头来非出差错不可！不过请你原谅，我打断了你的话头。这么说来，埃利奥特先生完全是为了钱而结婚的啦？很可能就是这个情况使你最先看清了他的本性吧？”
　　史密斯夫人听了这话，稍许犹豫了一阵。“噢！这种事情太司空见惯了。人生在世，男男女女为金钱而结婚的现象太普遍了，谁也不会感到奇怪。我当时很年轻，光跟年轻人打交道，我们那伙人没有头脑，没有严格的行为准则，光会寻欢作乐。我现在可不这么想了。时光、疾病和忧伤给我带来了别的想法。不过在那个时候，我必须承认我觉得埃利奥特先生的行为并没有什么可指摘的。‘尽量为自己打算’被当成了一项义务。”
　　“可她不是一位出身卑贱的女人吗？”
　　“是的。对此我提出过异议，可他满不在乎。钱，钱，他要的只是钱。她父亲是个牧场主，祖父是个屠夫，可是这都无所谓。她是个漂亮的女人，受过体面的教育。她是由几个表姐妹带出来的，偶尔碰见了埃利奥特先生，爱上了他。埃利奥特先生对她的出身既不计较，也不顾忌，他处心积虑地只想搞清楚她的财产的真实数额，然后才答应娶她。你相信我好啦，不管埃利奥特先生现在如何看重自己的社会地位，他年轻的时候对此却毫不重视。继承凯林奇庄园在他看来倒还不错，但是他把家族的荣誉视若粪土。我经常听他宣称，假如准男爵的爵位能够出售的话，谁都可以拿五十镑买走他的爵位，包括族徽和徽文、姓氏和号衣。不过，我说的这些话是否有我听到的一半那么多，我还不敢说，否则就成了说假话了。可是，我的话口说无凭，你应该见到证据，而且你会见到证据的。”
　　“说真的，亲爱的史密斯夫人，我不要证据，”安妮嚷道。“你说的情况与埃利奥特先生几年前的样子并不矛盾。相反，这倒完全印证了我们过去听到而又相信的一些情况。我越发想知道，他现在为什么会判若两人。”
　　“不过看在我的面上，请你拉铃叫一下玛丽。等一等，我想还是劳驾你亲自走进我的卧室，就在壁橱的上格你能见到一只嵌花的小匣子，把它拿给我。”
　　安妮见她的朋友情恳意切地坚持让她去，便只好从命。小匣子拿来了，摆在史密斯夫人面前。史密斯夫人一边叹息，一边打开匣子，然后说道：
　　“这里面装满了我丈夫的书信文件。这仅仅是他去世时我要查看的信件中的一小部分。我现在要找的这封信是我们结婚前埃利奥特先生写给我丈夫的，幸好给保存下来丁。怎么会保存下来，人们简直无法想象。我丈夫像别的男人一样，对这类东西漫不经心，缺乏条理。当我着手检查他的信件时，我发现这封信和其他一些信件放在一起，那些信件更没有价值，都是分布在四面八方的人们写给他的，而许多真正有价值的书信文件却给毁掉了。好，找到啦。我不想烧掉它，因为我当时对埃利奥特先生就不太满意，我决定把我们过去关系密切的每一份证据都保存下来。我现在之所以能很高兴地把这封信拿出来，还有另外一个动机。”
　　这封信寄给“滕布里奇韦尔斯，查尔斯·史密斯先生”写自伦敦，日期早在一八O三年七月。信的内容如下：
　　亲爱的史密斯：
　　来信收悉。你的好意真叫我万分感动。我真希望大自然造就更多像你这样的好心人，可惜我在世上活了二十三年，却没见到你这样的好心人。目前，我的确不需要劳你帮忙，我又有现金了。向我道喜吧，我摆脱了沃尔特爵士及其小姐。他们回到了凯林奇，几乎逼着我发誓：今年夏天去看望他们。不过，我第一次去凯林奇的时候，一定要带上个鉴定人，好告诉我如何以最有利的条件把庄园拍卖出去。然而，准男爵并非不可能续娶，他还真够愚蠢的。不过，他若是真的续娶了，他们倒会让我安静些，这在价值上完全可以同继承财产等量齐观。他的身体不如去年。
　　我姓什么都可以，就是不愿姓埃利奥特。我厌恶这个姓。谢天谢地，沃尔特这个名字我可以去掉！我希望你千万别再拿我的第二个W．来侮辱我，这就是说，我今后永远是你的忠实的——威廉·埃利奥特。

　　安妮读着这样一封信，岂能不气得满脸发紫。史密斯夫人一看见她这样的面色，便说：
　　“我知道，信里的言词十分无礼。虽说确切的词句我记不清了，但对整个意思我的印象却很深刻。不过从这里可以看出他是怎样一个人。你看看他对我那可怜的丈夫说的话。还有比那更肉麻的话吗？”
　　安妮发现埃利奥特用这样的言词侮辱她父亲，她那震惊和屈辱的心情是无法立即消除的。她情不自禁地想起，她看这封信是违背道义准则的，人们不应该拿这样的证据去判断或了解任何人，私人信件是不能容许他人过目的。后来她恢复了镇定，才把那封她一直拿着苦思冥想的信件还给了史密斯夫人，一面说道:
　　“谢谢你。这当然是充分的证据啦，证实了你所说的一切情况。可他现在为什么要与我们交往呢？”
　　“这我也能解释，”史密斯夫人笑着嚷道。
　　“你真能解释？”
　　“是的。我已经让你看清了十二年前的埃利奥特先生，我还要让你看清现在的埃利奥特先生。对于他现在需要什么，在干什么，我再也拿不出书面证据，不过我能按照你的愿望，拿出过硬的口头证据。他现在可不是伪君子。他真想娶你为妻。他如今向你家献殷勤倒是十分诚挚的，完全发自内心。我要提出我的证人：他的朋友沃利斯上校。”
　　“沃利斯上校！你认识他？”
　　“不认识。我不是直接从他那里听说的，而是拐了一两个弯子，不过这没关系。我的消息还是确切可靠的，虚假的成分早就排除了。埃利奥特先生毫不顾忌地向沃利斯上校谈起了他对你的看法。我想这位沃利斯上校本人倒是个聪明、谨慎而又有眼光的人，可他有个十分愚蠢的妻子，他告诉了她一些不该告诉的事情，把埃利奥特先生的话原原本本地学给她听了。她的身体处于康复阶段，精力特别充沛，因此她又原原本本地全学给她的护士听了。护士知道我认识你，自然也就全部告诉了我。星期一晚上，我的好朋友鲁克夫人向我透露了马尔巴勒大楼的这么多秘密。因此，当我说到整个来龙去脉时，你瞧我并不像你想象的那样言过其实。”
　　“亲爱的史密斯夫人，你的证据是不充足的。这样证明是不够的。埃利奥特先生对我有想法丝毫不能说明他为什么要尽力争取同我父亲和好。那都是我来巴思以前的事情。我到来的时候，发现他们极为友好。”
　　“我知道你发现他们极为友好。这我完全知道，可是……”
　　“说真的，史密斯夫人，我们不能期待通过这种渠道获得真实的消息。事实也好，看法也罢，让这么多人传来传去，要是有一个由于愚笨，另一个由于无知，结果都给曲解了，那就很难剩下多少真实的内容。”
　　“请你听我讲下去。你要是听我介绍一些你自己能即刻加以反驳，或是加以证实的详细情况，那么你很快就能断定我的话大体上是否可信。谁也不认为他最初是受到你的诱惑。他来巴思之前的确见到过你，而且也爱慕你，但他不知道那个人就是你。至少我的历史学家是这么说的．这是不是事实？用历史学家的话来说，他去年夏天或秋天是不是在‘西面某个地方’见到了你，可又不知道那个人是你？”
　　“他当然见过我。是有这么回事。在莱姆。我碰巧呆在莱姆。”
　　“好的，”史密斯夫人洋洋得意地继续说道，“既然我说的第一个情况是成立的，那就证明我的朋友还是可信的。埃利奥特先生在莱姆见到了你，非常喜欢你，后来在卡姆登巷再遇到你，知道你是安妮·埃利奥特小姐时，简直高兴极了。打那之后，我并不怀疑，他去卡姆登巷有个双重动机。不过他还有一个动机，一个更早的动机，我现在就来解释。你要是知道我说的情况有任何虚假或不确实的地方，就叫我不要讲下去。我要这么说，你姐姐的朋友，现在和你们住在一起的那位夫人，我听你提起过她，早在去年九月，当埃利奥特小姐和沃尔特爵士最初来到巴思时，她也陪着一起来了，此后便一直呆在这里。她是个八面玲珑、献媚固宠的漂亮女人，人虽穷嘴却很巧，从她现在的境况和态度来看，沃尔特爵士的亲朋故旧得到一个总的印象，她打算做埃利奥特夫人，而使大家感到惊奇的是，埃利奥特小姐显然看不到这个危险。”
　　史密斯夫人说到这里停顿了片刻，可是见安妮无话可说，便又继续说道：
　　“早在你回家之前，了解你家情况的人就有这个看法。沃利斯上校虽说当时没去卡姆登巷，但他很注意你父亲，察觉到了这个情况。他很关心埃利奥特先生，很留心地注视着那里发生的一切。就在圣诞节前夕，埃利奥特先生碰巧来到巴思，准备呆上一两天，沃利斯上校便向他介绍了一些情况，于是人们便流传开了。你要明白，随着时间的推移，埃利奥特先生对准男爵的价值的认识发生了根本的变化。在门第和亲属关系这些问题上，他如今完全判若两人。长期以来，他有足够的钱供他挥霍，在贪婪和纵乐方面再没有别的奢望，便渐渐学会把自己的幸福寄托在他要继承的爵位上。我早就认为他在我们停止交往之前就产生了这种思想，现在这个思想已经根深蒂固了。他无法设想自己不是威廉爵士。因此你可以猜测，他从他朋友那里听到的消息不可能是很愉快的，你还可以猜测出现了什么结果：他决定尽快回到巴思，在那里住上一段时间，企图恢复过去的交往，恢复他在你家的地位，以便搞清楚他的危险程度，如果发现危险很大，他就设法挫败那个女人。这是两位朋友商定唯一要做的事情，沃利斯上校将想方设法加以协助。埃利奥特先生要介绍沃利斯上校，介绍沃利斯夫人，介绍每一个人。于是，埃利奥特先生回到了巴思。如你所知，他请求原谅，受到了谅解，并被重新接纳为家庭的成员。在这里，他有一个坚定不移的目标，一个唯一的目标（直到你来了之后，他才增添了另外一个动机），这就是监视沃尔特爵士和克莱夫人。他从不错过和他们在一起的机会，接连不断地登门拜访，硬是夹在他们中间。不过，关于这方面的情况，我不必细说。你可以想象一个诡计多端的人会使出什么伎俩。经我这么一开导，你也许能回想起你看见他做的一些事情。”
　　“不错，”安妮说，“你告诉我的情况，与我了解的或是可以想象的情况完全相符。一说起玩弄诡计的细节，总有点令人生厌。那些自私狡诈的小动作永远令人作呕。不过，我刚才听到的事情并不真正使我感到惊讶。我知道有些人听你这样说起埃利奥特先生，是会大吃一惊的，他们对此将很难相信，可我一直没有打消疑虑。我总想他的行为除了表面的动机之外，还应该有个别的什么动机。我倒想知道他对他所担心的那件事，现在有什么看法，他认为危险是不是在减少？”
　　“我觉得是在减少，”史密斯夫人答道。“他认为克莱夫人惧怕他，她知道他把她看穿了，不敢像他不在的时候那样胆大妄为。不过他迟早总得离开，只要克莱夫人保持着目前的影响，我看不出埃利奥特先生有什么可保险的。护士告诉我说，沃利斯夫人有个可笑的主意，当你嫁给埃利奥特先生的时候，要在结婚条款里写上这样一条：你父亲不能同克莱夫人结婚。大家都说，这种花招只有沃利斯夫人能想得出来。我那聪明的鲁克护士便看出了它的荒唐，她说：‘哦，说真的，夫人，这并不能阻止他和别人结婚啊。’的确，说实话，我觉得鲁克护士从心里并不极力反对沃尔特爵士续娶。你知道，她应该说是赞成男娶女嫁的。况且，这还要牵涉到个人利益，谁敢说她不会想入非非，祈望通过沃利斯夫人的推荐，服侍下一位埃利奥特夫人？”
　　安妮略微沉思了一下，然后说：“我很高兴了解到这一切。在某些方面，同他交往将使我感到更加痛苦，不过我会知道怎么办的。我的行为方式将更加直截了当。显然，他是个虚伪做作、老于世故的人，除了自私自利以外，从来没有过更好的指导原则。”
　　但是，埃利奥特先生的老底还没抖搂完。史密斯夫人说着说着便偏离了最初的方向，安妮因为担心自己家里的事情，忘记了原先对他的满腹怨恨。不过她的注意力现在集中到史密斯夫人那些最早的暗示上，听她详细叙说。史密斯夫人的叙说如果不能证明她的无比怨恨是完全正当的，却能证明埃利奥特先生待她十分无情，既冷酷又缺德。
　　安妮认识到，埃利奥特先生结婚以后他们的亲密关系并没受到损害，两人还像以前那样形影不离，在埃利奥特先生的怂恿下，他的朋友变得大手大脚，花起钱来大大超出了他的财力。史密斯夫人不想责怪自己，也不想轻易责怪自己的丈夫。不过安妮看得出来，他们的收入一向都满足不了他们的生活派头，总的来说，他们两人从一开始就挥霍无度。安妮从史密斯夫人的话里可以看出，史密斯先生为人热情洋溢，随和。大大咧咧，缺乏头脑。他比他的朋友和蔼得多，而且与他大不相同，尽让他牵着鼻子走，很可能还让他瞧不起。埃利奥特先生通过结婚发了大财，他可以尽情满足自己的欲望和虚荣心，而不使自己陷入麻烦，因为他尽管放荡不羁，却变得精明起来。就在他的朋友发现自己穷困潦倒的时候，他却越来越富，可他对朋友的经济情况似乎毫不关心，相反倒一味怂恿他拼命花钱，这只能引起他的倾家荡产。因此，史密斯夫妇便倾家荡产了。
　　那个做丈夫的死得真是时候，也省得全面了解这些情况了。在这之前，他们已经感到有些窘迫，曾考验过朋友们的友情，结果证明：对埃利奥特先生还是不考验的好。但是，直到史密斯先生死后，人们才全面了解到他的家境败落到何等地步。史密斯先生出于感情上而不是理智上的原因，相信埃利奥特先生对他还比较敬重，便指定他作自己遗嘱的执行人。谁想埃利奥特先生不肯干，结果使史密斯夫人遇到了一大堆困难和烦恼，再加上她的处境必然会带来痛楚，因而叙说起来不可能不感到痛苦万端，听起来也不可能不感到义愤填膺。
　　史密斯夫人把埃利奥特先生当时的几封信拿给安妮看了，这都是对史密斯夫人几次紧急请求的回信，态度十分坚决，执意不肯去找那种徒劳无益的麻烦。信里还摆出一副冷漠而客气的姿态，对史密斯夫人可能因此遭到的不幸全是那么冷酷无情，漠不关心。这是忘恩负义、毫无人性的可怕写照。安妮有时感到，这比公开犯罪还要可恶。她有很多事情要听。过去那些悲惨景象的详情细节，一桩桩烦恼的细枝末节，这在以往的谈话中只不过委婉地暗示几句，这下子却滔滔不绝地全倾吐出来了。安妮完全可以理解这种莫大的宽慰，只是对她的朋友平时心里那么镇静，越发感到惊讶不已。
　　在史密斯夫人的苦情帐上，有一个情况使她感到特别恼火。她有充分的理由相信，她丈夫在西印度群岛有份资产，多年来一直被扣押着，以便偿还本身的债务，若是采取妥当的措施，倒可以重新要回来。这笔资产虽然数额不大，但是相对来说可以使她富裕起来。可惜没有人去操办。埃利奥特先生不肯代劳，史密斯夫人自己又无能为力，一则身体虚弱不能亲自奔波，二则手头缺钱不能雇人代办。她甚至都没有亲戚帮她出出主意，也雇不起律师帮忙。实际上有了眉目的资产如今又令人痛心地复杂化了。她觉得自己的境况本应好一些，只要在节骨眼上使一把劲就能办到，而拖延下去则会使索回财产变得更加困难，真叫她忧心如焚！
　　正是在这一点上，史密斯夫人希望安妮能做做埃利奥特先生的工作。起先，她以为他们两人要结婚，十分担心因此而失掉自己的朋友。但她后来断定埃利奥特先生不会帮她的忙，因为他甚至不知道她在巴思。随即她又想到：埃利奥特先生所爱的女人只要施加点影响，还是能帮帮她的忙的。于是，她尽量装出尊重埃利奥特先生人格的样子，一心就想激起安妮的情意，不想安妮却反驳说，他们并没像她想象的那样订过婚，这样一来，事情的面目全改变了。她新近产生的希望，觉得自己最渴望的事情有可能获得成功，不料安妮的反驳又使她的希望破灭了。不过，她至少可以按照自己的方式来讲述整个事情，因而从中得到安慰。
　　安妮听了有关埃利奥特先生的全面描述之后，不禁对史密斯夫人在讲话开始时如此赞许埃利奥特先生感到有些惊奇。“你刚才似乎在夸奖他！”
　　“亲爱的，”史密斯夫人答道，“我没有别的办法呀。虽说他可能还没向你求婚，但我认为你必然要嫁给他，因此我不能告诉你真情，就犹如他真是你丈夫一样。当我谈论幸福的时候，我从心里为你感到痛惜。不过，他生性聪明，为人谦和，有了你这样一个女人，幸福不是绝对不可能的。他对他的头一个妻子很不仁慈。他们在一起是可悲的。不过她也太无知，太轻浮，不配受到敬重，况且他从来没有爱过她。我但愿，你一定比她幸运。”
　　安妮心里倒勉强能够承认，她本来是有可能被人劝说嫁给埃利奥特先生的，而一想到由此必定会引起的痛苦，她又为之不寒而栗。她完全可能被拉塞尔夫人说服！假定出现这种情况的话，等时光过了很久，这一切才慢慢披露出来，那岂不是极其可悲吗？
　　最好不要让拉塞尔夫人再上当了。两人这次重要的谈话持续了大半个上午，最后得出的结论之一，就是与史密斯夫人有关系、而又与埃利奥特先生有牵连的每一件事情，安妮尽可告诉她的朋友。
  
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Chapter Twenty-two

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 practised 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 any
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 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."



　　安妮回到家里，仔细思忖着她所听到的这一切，她对埃利奥特先生的了解有一点使她心理感到宽慰。她对他再也没有什么温情可言了。他与温特沃斯上校恰好相反，总是那样咄咄逼人，令人讨厌。昨天晚上，他居心不良的大献殷勤，可能已经造成了无可挽回的损失，安妮一想起来便感慨万端，但是头脑还比较情形。她已经不再怜悯他了。不过，这是唯一感到宽慰的地方。至于其它方面，她环顾一下四周，或是展望一下未来，发现还有更多的情况值得怀疑和忧虑。她担心拉塞尔夫人会感到失望与悲痛，担心她父亲和姐姐一定会满面羞耻，她还伤心得预见到许多不幸的事情，但是一个也不知道如何防范。她庆幸自己认清了埃利奥特先生。她从未想到自己会因为没有冷眼看待史密斯夫人这样一位老朋友而得到报答，可是现在她确实因此而得到了报答！史密斯夫人居然能够告诉她别人不能提供的消息，这些消息可不可以告诉她全家人呢？这是毫无意义的。她必须找拉塞尔夫人谈谈，把这些情况告诉她，问问她的意见，尽到最大努力以后，就尽可能安下心来，静观事态的发展。然而，使她最不能安静的是，她有一桩心事不能向拉塞尔夫人吐露，只得一个人为此焦虑不堪。
    她回到家里，发现正像她打算的那样，她避开了埃利奥特先生。他上午已经来过了，达了很长时间。但是她刚刚有些自我庆幸，觉得放心了，就又听说他晚上还要来。
    “我丝毫不想让他晚上来，”伊丽莎白装出一副漫不经心的神气说道：“可他却做了那么多暗示，至少克莱夫人是这么说的。”
    “的确，我是这么说的，我生平从没见过任何人像他那样苛求别人邀请。好可怜的人！我真替他伤心。安妮小姐，看来，你那狠心的姐姐还真是个铁石心肠。”
    “喔！”伊丽莎白嚷道，“我对这一套已经习以为常了。不会一听到一个男人暗示几句，就搞得不知所措。不过，当我发现他今天上午因为没见到父亲而感到万分遗憾时，我马上让步了，因为我的确从不错过机会把他和沃尔特爵士撮合到一起。他们一起显得多么融洽！举止多么讨人喜欢！埃利奥特先生是多么必恭必敬！”
    “太令人高兴了！”克莱夫人说道，可是她不敢把眼睛转向安妮。“完全象父子一样！亲爱的埃利奥特小姐，难道不可以说是父子吗？”
    “喔！别人怎么说我概不反对。你愿这么想就这么想吧！不过，说老实话，我看不出他比别人更殷勤。”
    “亲爱的埃利奥特小姐，”克莱夫人喊了一声，同时举起双手，抬起双眼。接着她又采取最简单的办法，用沉默抑制住了她全部的余惊。
    “好啦，亲爱的佩内洛普，你不必为他如此惊恐。你知道我的确邀请他了。我满脸笑容的把他送走了。当我发现他明天全天真的要去桑贝里庄园的朋友那里，我就很可怜他。”
    安妮很赞叹这位朋友的精彩表演。她明知埃利奥特先生的出现势必要妨碍她的主要意图，却能显得十分高兴地期望他真的到来。克莱夫人不可能不讨厌见到埃利奥特先生，然而她却能装出一副极其殷切、极其娴静的神情，仿佛很愿意把自己平时花在沃尔特爵士身上的时间减掉一半似的。
    对于安妮本人来说，看到埃利奥特先生走进屋里，那是极为苦恼的，而看着他走过来同她说话，又将是十分痛苦的。她以前就经常感到，他不可能总是那么诚心诚意的，可是现在她发现他处处都不真诚。他对他父亲的必恭必敬同他过去的言论对照起来，实在另人做呕。一想起他对待史密斯夫人的恶劣行经，再看看他眼下那副满脸堆笑、温情脉脉的神态，听听他那矫揉造作、多情善感的语调，简直叫她无法忍受。
　　安妮心想态度不要变得太突然，以免引起他的抱怨。她的主要目标是避开他的盘问，避开那些让她惹人注目的场合。不过她要毫不含糊地对他有所冷淡，以便同他们之间的关系协调起来。本来，她在埃利奥特先生的诱导下，渐渐对他产生了几分多余的亲密，现在要尽量无声无息地冷下来。因此，她比前天晚上来得更加谨慎，更加冷淡。
　　埃利奥特先生想再次激起她的好奇心，问问他以前是如何以及从哪里听人赞扬她的，而且很想洋洋得意地听她多问问。谁想他的魔法失灵了，他发现他的堂妹过于自谦，要想激起她的虚荣心，还得靠那气氛热烈的公众场合。他至少发现，眼下别人老是缠住他不放，任凭他贸然对安妮作出任何表示，也将无济于事。他万万没有料到，他这样干对他恰恰是不利的，它使安妮当即想起了他那些最不可饶恕的行径。
　　安妮颇为高兴地发现，埃利奥特先生第二天早晨确实要离开巴思，一大早就动身，而且要走掉两天的大部分时间。他回来的那天晚上还要应邀来卡姆登巷，可是从星期四到星期六晚上，他却是肯定来不了啦。对安妮来说，眼前老是有个克莱夫人已经够讨厌的了，再加上个更虚伪的伪君子，似乎破坏了一切安宁与舒适。想想他们对她父亲和伊丽莎白的一再欺骗，想想他们以后还可能蒙受种种耻辱，真使她感到又羞又恼！克莱夫人的自私打算还不像埃利奥特先生那样复杂，那样令人厌恶。她嫁给沃尔特爵士虽说弊端很多，但是为了不使埃利奥特先生处心积虑地加以阻拦，安妮宁愿立即同意这门婚事。
　　星期五早晨，安妮打算一大早就去找拉塞尔夫人，向她透露必要的情况。她本想一吃好早饭就走，不料克莱夫人也要出去，为的是替她姐姐办点事，因此她决定先等一等，省得和她作伴。等她看见克莱夫人走远了，才说起上午要去里弗斯街。
　　“好吧，”伊丽莎白说，“我没有什么事，代问个好吧。哦！你最好把她非要借给我的那本讨厌的书给她带回去，就假装说我看完了。我的确不能总是用英国出版的新诗、新书来折磨自己。拉塞尔夫人尽拿些新出版物来惹我厌烦。这话你不必告诉她，不过我觉得她那天晚上打扮得很可怕。我本来以为她的穿着很风雅，可那次在音乐会上我真替她害臊。她的神态那么拘谨，那么做作！她坐得那么笔挺！当然，代我致以最亲切的问候。”
　　“也代我问好，”沃尔特爵士接着说道，“最亲切的问候。你还可以告诉她，我想不久去拜访她。捎个客气话，我只不过想去留个名片。女人到了她这个年纪很少打扮自己，因此早晨走访对她们来说总是不恰当的。她只要化好妆，就不会害怕让人看见。不过我上次去看她时，注意到她马上放下了窗帘。”
　　就在她父亲说话的时候，忽听有人敲门。会是谁呢？安妮一记起埃利奥特先生事先说定随时都可能来访，便会往他身上想，可眼下她知道他到七英里以外赴约去了。大家像通常那样捉摸不定地等了一阵之后，听到了客人像往常那样越走越近的声音，接着查尔斯·默斯格罗夫夫妇便被引进屋来。
　　他们的到来使得众人大为惊讶，不过安妮见到他们确实很高兴，而其他人也并不后悔自己竟能装出一副表示欢迎的神气。后来，当这两位至亲表明他们来此并不打算住到沃尔特爵士府上，沃尔特爵士和伊丽莎白顿时热忱剧增，客客气气地招待了起来。查尔斯夫妇陪同默斯格罗夫太太来巴思逗留几天，住在白哈特旅馆。这点情况他们很快便了解到了。后来，直到沃尔特爵士和伊丽莎白把玛丽领到另一间客厅，乐滋滋地听着她的溢美之词，安妮才从查尔斯那里得知他们来巴思的真实经过。玛丽刚才有意卖关子，笑眯眯地暗示说他们有特殊任务，查尔斯对此也作了解释。他还对他们一行有哪些人作了说明，因为他们几个人对此显然有所误解。
　　安妮这才发现，他们一行除了查尔斯夫妇以外，还有默斯格罗夫太太、亨丽埃塔和哈维尔上校。查尔斯把整个情况介绍得一清二楚，安妮听了觉得这事搞得极为奇特。事情最先是由哈维尔上校挑起来的，他想来巴思办点事。他早在一个星期以前就嚷嚷开了，查尔斯因为狩猎期结束了，为了有点事干，提出来要同哈维尔上校一道来，哈维尔夫人似乎非常喜欢这个主意，觉得对她丈夫很有好处。怎奈玛丽不肯一个人留在家里，显得好不高兴，一两天来，仿佛一切都悬而不决，或者不了了之。幸而查尔斯的父母亲对此也发生了兴趣。他母亲在巴思有几位老朋友，她想去看看。大家认为这对亨丽埃塔来说倒是个好机会，可以给自己和妹妹置办结婚礼服。总之，最后形成了默斯格罗夫太太一行，而且处处为哈维尔上校带来了方便和舒适条件。为了便利大伙，查尔斯和玛丽也给吸收了进来。他们前天深夜到达。哈维尔夫人、她的孩子以及本威克中校，同默斯格罗夫先生和路易莎一起留在厄泼克劳斯。
　　安妮唯一感到惊奇的是，事情发展得如此迅速，居然谈起了亨丽埃塔的结婚礼服。她原来设想他们会有很大的经济困难，一时还结不了婚。谁想查尔斯告诉她，最近（玛丽上次给她写信以后），有一位朋友向查尔斯·海特提议，要他为一个青年代行牧师职务，那个青年在几年内不会接任。凭着目前的这笔收入，直到该协定期满以前，他几乎可以肯定获得长期的生活保障，因此男女两家答应了青年人的心愿，他们的婚礼可能和路易莎的来得一样快，再过几个月就要举行。“这真是个美差，”查尔斯补充说，“离厄泼克劳斯只不过二十五英里，在一个十分美丽的乡村，那是多塞特郡一个很美的地方。就在王国一些上等狩猎保护区的中央，周围有三个大业主，他们一个更比一个小心戒备。查尔斯·海特至少可以得到两个大业主的特别垂爱。这倒不是说他会对此很珍惜，这是他应当珍惜的。查尔斯太不爱动了，这是他的最大弱点。”
　　“我真高兴极了，”安妮喊道。“能有这种事，真叫我格外高兴。这姊妹俩应该同样幸运，她们一向情同手足，一个人前程灿烂不能让另一个人黯然失色，她们应该同样有钱，同样享福。我希望你父母亲对这两门亲事都很中意。”
　　“哦，是的！假使两个女婿钱再多一些，我父亲倒可能很高兴。不过他没有别的好挑剔的。钱，你知道，他要拿出钱来——一下子嫁出两个女儿——这不可能是一件非常轻快的事情，会使他在许多事情上陷入窘境。然而我并不是说做女儿的没有权利要钱。她们理所当然应该得到嫁妆。我敢说，他对我一直是个十分慈爱、十分慷慨的父亲。玛丽不太喜欢亨丽埃塔的对象。你知道，她向来如此。但是她小看了查尔斯。海特，小看了温思罗普。我想让她知道他有多少财产，可是做不到。久而久之，这是一门十分匹配的亲事。我一向都很喜欢查尔斯·海特，现在决不会绝情。”
　　“像默斯格罗夫夫妇这样慈爱的父母，”安妮大声嚷道，“看着自己的女儿出嫁准会很高兴。我想他们做的每一件事都是为了让孩子们幸福。青年人有这样的父母，真是万幸！看样子，你父母亲全然没有非分之想，不会害得一家老小犯那么大的错误，吃那么多的苦头。但愿路易莎完全康复了吧？”
　　查尔斯吞吞吐吐地答道：“是的，我觉得她好了。她好是好多了，不过人却变了。不跑不蹦，没有笑声，也不跳舞，和以前大不一样。哪怕谁关门关重了一点，她也要吓一跳，像水里的小鸊鸱似的蠕动身子。本威克坐在她旁边，整天给她念诗，或是窃窃私语。”
　　安妮忍不住笑了。“我知道，这不会合你的意，”她说。“不过，我相信他是个极好的青年人。”
　　“他当然好，对此谁也不怀疑。我希望你不要以为我那样狭隘，以至于想让每个人都怀有我那样的爱好和乐趣。我十分器重本威克。谁要是能打开他的话匣子，他就会说个滔滔不绝。读书对他并无害处，因为他既读书又打仗。他是个勇敢的小伙子。这个星期一，我对他比以往有了更多的了解。我们在我父亲的大谷仓里逮老鼠，大闹了一个上午。他干得很出色，从此我就更喜欢他了。”
　　说到这里，他们的谈话中断了，因为查尔斯不得不跟着众人去观赏镜子和瓷器。不过安妮听到的事情够多的了，足以了解厄泼克劳斯目前的状况，并对那里的喜庆局面感到高兴。虽说她一边高兴一边叹息，但是她的叹息丝毫没有嫉妒的意思。如果可能的话，她当然愿意获得他们那样的幸福，但是她不想损害他们的幸福。
　　这次访问高高兴兴地过去了。玛丽喜气洋洋的，出来换换环境，遇到如此快乐的气氛，不禁感到十分称心。她一路上乘着她婆婆的驷马马车，到了巴思又能不依赖卡姆登巷而完全自立，对此她也感到十分得意。因此，她完全有心思欣赏一切理应欣赏的东西，等娘家人向她详细介绍这房子的优越性时，她也能欣然地应承几句。她对父亲或姐姐没有什么要求，能坐在他们那漂亮的客厅里，她就觉得够神气的了。
　　伊丽莎白一时之间感到很苦恼。她觉得，她应该请默斯格罗夫太太一帮人来家里吃饭，但是家里换了派头，减少了用人，一请他们吃饭准会露馅，而让那些地位总比凯林奇的埃利奥特家低下的人们来看热闹，真叫她无法忍受。这是礼仪与虚荣心之间的斗争，好在虚荣心占了上风，于是伊丽莎白又高兴了。她心里是这样想的：“那是些陈腐观念，乡下人的好客。我们可不请人吃饭，巴思很少有人这样做。阿利西亚夫人从不请客，甚至连自己妹妹家的人都不请，尽管他们在这里住了一个月。我想那会给默斯格罗夫太太带来不便，使她感到极不自在。我敢肯定，她倒宁愿不来，因为她和我们在一起不自在。我想请他们大伙来玩一个晚上，这样会强得多，既新奇，又有趣。他们以前从没见过这样漂亮的两间客厅。他们明天晚上会乐意来的。这将是一次名副其实的晚会，规模虽小，但却十分讲究。”这个想法使伊丽莎白感到很满意。当她向在场的两人提出邀请，并且答应向不在场的人发去邀请时，玛丽感到同样心满意足。伊丽莎白特别要求她见见埃利奥特先生，结识一下达尔林普尔夫人和卡特雷特小姐。真是幸运，他们几个都说定要来。有他们赏脸，玛丽将感到不胜荣幸。当天上午，埃利奥特小姐要去拜访默斯格罗夫太太。安妮跟着查尔斯和玛丽一起走了出去，这就去看看默斯格罗夫太太和亨丽埃塔。
　　她要陪伴拉塞尔夫人的计划眼下只得让路了。他们三人到里弗斯街待了几分钟，安妮心想，原来打算要告诉拉塞尔夫人的情况，推迟一天再说也没关系，于是便匆匆忙忙地赶到白哈特旅馆，去看望去年秋天与她一起相处的朋友。由于多次接触的缘故，她对他们怀有深切的情意。
　　他们在屋里见到了默斯格罗夫太太和她的女儿，而且就她们两个人。安妮受到了两人极其亲切的欢迎。亨丽埃塔因为最近有了喜事，心里也爽快起来，见到以前喜欢过的人，总是充满了体贴与关心。而默斯格罗夫太太则因为安妮在危急时刻帮过忙，对她也一片真心，十分疼爱。安妮实在命苦，在家里尝不到这种乐趣，如今受到这样真心诚意、热情好客的接待，不禁越发感到高兴，她们恳求她尽量多去她们那儿，邀请她天天去，而且要她整天与她们呆在一起，或者更确切地说，她被看作她们家庭的一员。而作为报答，安妮当然也像往常那样关心她们，帮助她们。查尔斯走后，她就倾听默斯格罗夫太太叙说起路易莎的经历，倾听亨丽埃塔介绍她自己的情况。安妮还谈了她对市场行情的看法，推荐她们到哪些商店买东西。在这期间，玛丽还不时需要她帮这帮那，从给她换缎带，到给她算帐，从给她找钥匙、整理细小装饰品，到设法让她相信谁也没有亏待她。玛丽尽管平常总是乐呵呵的，眼下立在窗口，俯瞰着矿泉厅门口，不禁又想象自己受人虐待了。
　　那是一个十分忙乱的早晨。旅馆里住进一大群人，必然会出现那种瞬息多变、乱乱哄哄的场面。前五分钟收到一封短简，后五分钟接到一件包裹。安妮来了还不到半个小时，似乎大半个餐厅都挤满了人，虽说那是个宽宽敞敞的大餐厅。一伙忠实可靠的老朋友坐在默斯格罗夫太太四周。查尔斯回来了，带来了哈维尔和温特沃思两位上校。温特沃思上校的出现只不过使安妮惊讶了片刻，她不可能不感觉到，他们的共同朋友的到来必定会使他俩很快重新相见。他们的最后一次见面至关重要，打开了他感情上的闸门，安妮像吃了定心丸似的，心里感到十分高兴。但是看看他的表情，她又有些担心，上次他以为安妮另有他人，匆匆离开了音乐厅，只怕他心里还被这种不幸的念头所左右。看样子，他并不想走上前来同她搭话。
　　安妮尽量保持镇定，一切听其自然。她力图多往合乎情理的观点上着想；“当然，我们双方要是忠贞不渝的话，那么我们的心不久就会相通。我们不是小孩子，不会互相吹毛求疵，动不动就发火，不会让一时的疏失迷住眼睛，拿自己的幸福当儿戏。”可是隔了几分钟之后，她又觉得在目前的情况下，他们呆在一起似乎只能引起极为有害的疏失与误解。
　　“安妮，”玛丽仍然立在窗口，大声叫道，“克莱夫人站在柱廊下面，千真万确，还有个男的陪着她。我看见他们刚从巴思街拐过来。他们好像谈得很热火。那是谁呢？快告诉我。天哪！我想起来了，是埃利奥特先生。”
　　“不，”安妮连忙喊道，“我敢担保，不可能是埃利奥特先生。他今天上午九点离开巴思，明天才能回来。”
　　她说话的当儿，觉得温特沃思上校在瞅着她，为此她感到又恼又窘，后悔自己不该说那么多，尽管话很简单。
　　玛丽最愤恨别人以为她不了解自己的堂兄，便十分激动地谈起了本家的相貌特征，越发一口咬定就是埃利奥特先生，还再次招呼安妮过去亲自瞧瞧，不想安妮动也不动，极力装作漠不关心的样子。不过她觉得出来，有两三个女客相互笑了笑，会心地使着眼色，仿佛自以为深知其中的奥秘似的，害得安妮又忐忑不安起来。显然，关于她的风言风语已经传开了。接下来是一阵沉静，似乎要确保这风言风语进一步扩散出去。
　　“快来呀，安妮，”玛丽喊道，“你来亲自看看。不快点来可就赶不上啦。他们要分别了，正在握手。他转身了。我真不认得埃利奥特先生！你好像把莱姆的事情忘得精光。”
　　安妮为了让玛丽平息下来，或许也是为了掩饰自己的窘态，便悄悄走到窗口。她来得真及时，恰好看清那人果然是埃利奥特先生，这在刚才她还一直不肯相信呢！只见埃利奥特先生朝一边走不见了，克莱夫人朝另一边急速走掉了。这两个人有着截然不同的利害关系，居然摆出一副友好商谈的样子，安妮岂能不为之惊讶。不过，她抑制住自己的惊讶，坦然地说道：“是的，确实是埃利奥特先生。我想他改变了出发时间，如此而已。或者，也许是我搞错了，我可能听得不仔细。”说罢她回到自己的椅子上，恢复了镇定，心想自己表现得还不错，不禁觉得有些欣慰。
　　客人们告辞了，查尔斯客客气气地把他们送走后，又朝他们做了个鬼脸，责怪他们不该来，然后说道：
　　“唔，妈妈，我给你做了件好事，你会喜欢的。我跑到戏院，为明天晚上订了个包厢。我这个儿子不错吧？我知道你爱看戏。我们大家都有位置。包厢里能坐九个人。我已经约好了温特沃思上校。我想安妮不会反对和我们一起去的。我们大家都喜欢看戏。我干得不错吧，妈妈？”
　　默斯格罗夫太太和颜悦色地刚表示说：假如亨丽埃塔和其他人都喜欢看戏的话，她也百分之百地喜欢，不想话头被玛丽急忙打断了，只听她大声嚷道：
　　“天哪！查尔斯，你怎么能想出这种事来？为明天晚上订个包厢！难道你忘了我们约好明天晚上去卡姆登巷？伊丽莎白还特别要求我们见见达尔林普尔夫人和她女儿，以及埃利奥特先生？都是我们家的主要亲戚，特意让我们结识一下。你怎么能这么健忘？”
　　“得啦！得啦！”查尔斯回答说，“一个晚会算什么？根本不值得放在心上。我想，假使你父亲真想见见我们的话，他也许该请我们吃顿饭。你爱怎么办就怎么办，反正我要去看戏。”
　　“哦！查尔斯，你已经答应去参加晚会了，要是再去看戏，我要说，那就太可恶了。”
　　“不，我没有答应。我只是假意笑了笑，鞠了个躬，说了声‘很高兴’。我没有答应。”
　　“可是你一定得去，查尔斯。你不去将是无法饶恕的。人家特意要为我们作介绍。达尔林普尔一家人和我们之间一向有着密切的联系。双方无论发生什么事情，都是马上加以通报。你知道，我们是至亲。还有埃利奥特先生，你应该特别同他结交！你应该十分关心埃利奥特先生。你想想看，他是我父亲的继承人，埃利奥特家族未来的代表。”
　　“不要跟我谈论什么继承人、代表的，”查尔斯喊道。“我可不是那种人，放着当政的权贵不予理睬，却去巴结那新兴的权贵。我要是看在你父亲的面上都不想去，却又为了他的继承人而去，那岂不是很荒唐。对我来说，埃利奥特先生算老几？”
　　安妮一听这冒失的话，觉得说得痛快，只见温特沃思上校正在全神贯注地望着，听着，听到最后一句话，他不由得将好奇的目光从查尔斯身上移到安妮身上。
　　查尔斯和玛丽仍然以这种方式继续争论着，一个半认真半开玩笑，坚持要去看戏，一个始终很认真，极力反对去看戏，并且没有忘记说明：她自己尽管非去卡姆登巷不可，但是他们如果撇开她去看戏，那她就会感到自己受到了亏待。默斯格罗夫太太插嘴说：
　　“看戏还是往后推推吧。查尔斯，你最好回去把包厢换成星期二的。把大伙拆散可就糟糕啦。何况，安妮小姐看她父亲那里有晚会，也不会跟我们去的。我可以断定，假使安妮小姐不和我们一起去，亨丽埃塔和我压根儿就不想去看戏。”
　　安妮真诚感激她的这番好意。她还十分感激这给她提供了一个机会，可以明言直语地说道：
　　“太太，假如仅仅依着我的意愿，那么家里的晚会若不是因为玛丽的缘故，决不会成为一丝一毫的妨碍。我并不喜欢那类晚会，很愿意改成去看戏，而且和你们一道去。不过，也许最好不要这么干。”
　　她把话说出去了，可她却一边说一边在颤抖，因为她意识到有人在听，她甚至不敢观察她的话产生了什么效果。
　　大家很快一致同意：星期二再去看戏。只是查尔斯仍然保持着继续戏弄他妻子的权利，一味坚持说：明天就是别人不去，他也要去看戏。
　　温特沃思上校离开座位，朝壁炉跟前走去，很可能是想在那里呆一下再走开，悄悄坐到安妮旁边。
　　“你在巴思时间不长，”他说，“还不能欣赏这里的晚会。”
　　“哦！不。从通常的特点来说，晚会并不适合我的胃口。我不打牌。”
　　“我知道你以前不打。那时候你不喜欢打牌。可是时间可以使人发生很多变化。”
　　“我可没有变多少，”安妮嚷了一声，又停住了，唯恐不知要造成什么误解。停了一会，温特沃思上校像是发自肺腑地说道：“真是恍若隔世啊！八年半过去啦！”
　　他是否会进一步说下去，那只有让安妮静下来的时候再去思索了，因为就在她听着他的话音的当儿，亨丽埃塔却扯起了别的话题，使她吃了一惊。原来，亨丽埃塔一心想趁着眼下的空闲工夫赶紧溜出去，便招呼她的伙伴不要耽误时间，免得有人再进来。
　　大家迫不得已，只能准备走。安妮说她很愿意走；而且极力装出愿意走的样子。不过她觉得，假若亨丽埃塔知道她在离开那张椅子、准备走出屋子的时候，心里有多么遗憾，多么勉强，她就会凭着她对自己表兄的情感，凭着表兄对她自己牢靠的情意，而对她安妮加以同情。
　　大伙正准备着，猛地听到一阵令人惊恐的声音，一个个都连忙停了下来。又有客人来了，门一打开，进来的是沃尔特爵士和埃利奥特小姐，众人一见，心里不觉凉了半截。安妮当即产生了一种压抑感，她的目光无论往哪里看，都见到这种压抑感的迹象。屋里的那种舒适、自由、快乐的气氛消失了，代之而来的是冷漠与镇静，面对着她那冷酷而高傲的父亲和姐姐，一个个或者硬是闭口不语，或者趣味索然地敷衍几句。出现这种情况，真叫人感到羞耻！
　　她那警觉的目光对有一个情况比较满意。她的父亲和姐姐又向温特沃思上校打了个招呼，特别是伊丽莎白，表现得比以前更有礼貌。她甚至还同他说了一次话，不止一次地朝他望去。其实，伊丽莎白正在酝酿一项重大措施。这从结果可以看得出来。她先是恰如其分地寒暄了几句，费了几分钟，接着便提出了邀请，要求默斯格罗夫府上所有在巴思的人全都光临。“就在明天晚上，跟几位朋友聚一聚，不是正式晚会。”伊丽莎白把这话说得十分得体，她还带来了请帖，上面写着“埃利奥特小姐恭请”，她恭恭敬敬、笑容可掬地把请帖放在桌子上，恭请诸位赏光。她还笑吟吟地特意送给温特沃思上校一份请帖。老实说，伊丽莎白在巴思呆久了，像温特沃思上校这种气派、这种仪表的人，她很懂得他的重要性。过去算不了什么。现在的问题是，温特沃思上校可以体面地在她的客厅里走来走去。请帖直接交给了他，然后沃尔特爵士和伊丽莎白便起身告辞了。
　　这段打扰虽说令人不快，但时间却不长，他俩一走出门，屋里的绝大多数人又变得轻松愉快起来，唯独安妮例外。她一心想着刚才惊讶地目睹伊丽莎白下请帖的情景，想着温特沃思上校接请帖的样子，意思让人捉摸不定，与其说是欣喜，不如说是惊奇，与其说是接受邀请，不如说是客气地表示收到请帖。安妮了解他，从他眼里见到鄙夷不屑的神情，着实不敢相信他会决意接受这样一项邀请，并把它看作是过去对他傲慢无礼的补偿。安妮的情绪不觉低沉下来。等她父亲和姐姐走后，温特沃思上校把请帖捏在手里，好像是在寻思什么。
　　“请你只要想一想，伊丽莎白把每个人都请到了！”玛丽低声说道，不过大伙都听得见，“我毫不怀疑温特沃思上校感到很高兴！你瞧，他拿着请帖都不肯撒手了。”
　　安妮发现温特沃思上校正在注视自己，只见他满脸通红，嘴角浮现出一丝轻蔑的表情，瞬息间便消逝了。安妮走开了，既不想多看，也不想多听，省得引起她的苦恼。
　　众人分开了。男人们去玩自己的，太太小姐去忙自己的事情，安妮在场时，他们没有再合在一起。大家诚恳地要求安妮回头来吃晚饭，今天就陪着众人玩到底。可是安妮劳了这么长时间的神，现在觉得有点精神不济了，只有回家为妥，那样她可以爱怎么清静就怎么清静。
　　她答应明天陪他们玩一个上午，然后便结束了目前的劳顿，吃力地朝卡姆登巷走去。晚上的时间主要听听伊丽莎白和克莱夫人讲讲她们如何为明日的晚会忙碌准备，听听她们一再列数邀请了哪些客人，一项项布置越说越详细，边说边改进，简直要使这次晚会办成巴思最最体面的一次。在这同时，安妮一直在暗暗询问自己：温特沃思上校会不会来？他们都认为他肯定会来，可是她却感到焦虑不安，要想连续平静五分钟都做不到。她大体上认为他会来，因为她大体上认为他应当来，然而这件事又不能从义务和审慎的角度认为他一定能来，那样势必无视对立的感情因素。
　　安妮从这激动不安的沉思中醒悟过来，只对克莱夫人说：就在埃利奥特先生原定离开巴思三个钟头之后，有人看见克莱夫人和他茌一起。本来，安妮一直等着克莱夫人自己说出这件事，可是白搭，于是她就决定亲自提出来。她似乎发现，克莱夫人听了之后，脸上闪现出愧疚的神色，瞬息间便消逝了。但是安妮心想，她从克莱夫人的神情里可以看出，或是由于暗中共谋，或是慑于埃利奥特先生的专横跋扈，她只得乖乖地听他说教，不准她在沃尔特爵士身上打主意，而且也许一谈就是半个小时。不过，克莱夫人用伪装得十分自然的语气大声说道：
　　“哦，天哪！一点不错。你只要想一想，埃利奥特小姐，完全出乎我的意料，我在巴思街遇见了埃利奥特先生。我从来没有这么惊奇过。他掉过头来，陪我走到矿泉厅。他遇到了什么事情，没有按时出发去桑贝里，可我确实忘了是什么事情。我当时匆匆忙忙的，不可能很专心。我只能担保他决不肯推迟回来。他想知道，他明天最早什么时候可以登门做客。他满脑子的‘明天’。显然，自从我进到屋里，得知你们要多请些客人来，得知有这样那样的情况，我也是满脑子想着明天，要不然，我无论如何也忘不掉看见了他。”
  
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Chapter Twenty-three

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 of analogy will authorise me to assert that ours are the most
tender.  Man is more robust than woman, but he is not longer lived;
which exactly explains my view of the nature of their attachments.
Nay, it would be too hard upon you, if it were otherwise.  You have
difficulties, and privations, and dangers enough to struggle with.  You
are always labouring and toiling, exposed to every risk and hardship.
Your home, country, friends, all quitted.  Neither time, nor health,
nor life, to be called your own.  It would be hard, indeed" (with a
faltering voice), "if woman's feelings were to be added to all this."

"We shall never agree upon this question," Captain Harville was
beginning to say, when a slight noise called their attention to Captain
Wentworth's hitherto perfectly quiet division of the room.  It was
nothing more than that his pen had fallen down; but Anne was startled
at finding him nearer than she had supposed, and half inclined to
suspect that the pen had only fallen because he had been occupied by
them, striving to catch sounds, which yet she did not think he could
have caught.

"Have you finished your letter?" said Captain Harville.

"Not quite, a few lines more.  I shall have done in five minutes."

"There is no hurry on my side.  I am only ready whenever you are.  I am
in very good anchorage here," (smiling at Anne,) "well supplied, and
want for nothing.  No hurry for a signal at all.  Well, Miss Elliot,"
(lowering his voice,) "as I was saying we shall never agree, I suppose,
upon this point.  No man and woman, would, probably.  But let me
observe that all histories are against you--all stories, prose and
verse.  If I had such a memory as Benwick, I could bring you fifty
quotations in a moment on my side the argument, and I do not think I
ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon
woman's inconstancy.  Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's
fickleness.  But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men."

"Perhaps I shall.  Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in
books.  Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story.
Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been
in their hands.  I will not allow books to prove anything."

"But how shall we prove anything?"

"We never shall.  We never can expect to prove any thing upon such a
point.  It is a difference of opinion which does not admit of proof.
We each begin, probably, with a little bias towards our own sex; and
upon that bias build every circumstance in favour of it which has
occurred within our own circle; many of which circumstances (perhaps
those very cases which strike us the most) may be precisely such as
cannot be brought forward without betraying a confidence, or in some
respect saying what should not be said."

"Ah!" cried Captain Harville, in a tone of strong feeling, "if I could
but make you comprehend what a man suffers when he takes a last look at
his wife and children, and watches the boat that he has sent them off
in, as long as it is in sight, and then turns away and says, 'God knows
whether we ever meet again!' And then, if I could convey to you the
glow of his soul when he does see them again; when, coming back after a
twelvemonth's absence, perhaps, and obliged to put into another port,
he calculates how soon it be possible to get them there, pretending to
deceive himself, and saying, 'They cannot be here till such a day,' but
all the while hoping for them twelve hours sooner, and seeing them
arrive at last, as if Heaven had given them wings, by many hours sooner
still!  If I could explain to you all this, and all that a man can bear
and do, and glories to do, for the sake of these treasures of his
existence!  I speak, you know, only of such men as have hearts!"
pressing his own with emotion.

"Oh!" cried Anne eagerly, "I hope I do justice to all that is felt by
you, and by those who resemble you.  God forbid that I should
undervalue the warm and faithful feelings of any of my
fellow-creatures!  I should deserve utter contempt if I dared to
suppose that true attachment and constancy were known only by woman.
No, I believe you capable of everything great and good in your married
lives.  I believe you equal to every important exertion, and to every
domestic forbearance, so long as--if I may be allowed the
expression--so long as you have an object.  I mean while the woman you
love lives, and lives for you.  All the privilege I claim for my own
sex (it is not a very enviable one; you need not covet it), is that of
loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone."

She could not immediately have uttered another sentence; her heart was
too full, her breath too much oppressed.

"You are a good soul," cried Captain Harville, putting his hand on her
arm, quite affectionately.  "There is no quarrelling with you.  And
when I think of Benwick, my tongue is tied."

Their attention was called towards the others.  Mrs Croft was taking
leave.

"Here, Frederick, you and I part company, I believe," said she.  "I am
going home, and you have an engagement with your friend.  To-night we
may have the pleasure of all meeting again at your party," (turning to
Anne.)  "We had your sister's card yesterday, and I understood
Frederick had a card too, though I did not see it; and you are
disengaged, Frederick, are you not, as well as ourselves?"

Captain Wentworth was folding up a letter in great haste, and either
could not or would not answer fully.

"Yes," said he, "very true; here we separate, but Harville and I shall
soon be after you; that is, Harville, if you are ready, I am in half a
minute.  I know you will not be sorry to be off.  I shall be at your
service in half a minute."

Mrs Croft left them, and Captain Wentworth, having sealed his letter
with great rapidity, was indeed ready, and had even a hurried, agitated
air, which shewed impatience to be gone.  Anne knew not how to
understand it.  She had the kindest "Good morning, God bless you!" from
Captain Harville, but from him not a word, nor a look!  He had passed
out of the room without a look!

She had only time, however, to move closer to the table where he had
been writing, when footsteps were heard returning; the door opened, it
was himself.  He begged their pardon, but he had forgotten his gloves,
and instantly crossing the room to the writing table, he drew out a
letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes
of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a time, and hastily collecting his
gloves, was again out of the room, almost before Mrs Musgrove was aware
of his being in it: the work of an instant!

The revolution which one instant had made in Anne, was almost beyond
expression.  The letter, with a direction hardly legible, to "Miss A.
E.--," was evidently the one which he had been folding so hastily.
While supposed to be writing only to Captain Benwick, he had been also
addressing her!  On the contents of that letter depended all which this
world could do for her.  Anything was possible, anything might be
defied rather than suspense.  Mrs Musgrove had little arrangements of
her own at her own table; to their protection she must trust, and
sinking into the chair which he had occupied, succeeding to the very
spot where he had leaned and written, her eyes devoured the following
words:


"I can listen no longer in silence.  I must speak to you by such means
as are within my reach.  You pierce my soul.  I am half agony, half
hope.  Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are
gone for ever.  I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your
own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago.  Dare
not say that man forgets sooner than  woman, that his love has an
earlier death.  I have loved none but you.  Unjust I may have been,
weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.  You alone have
brought me to Bath.  For you alone, I think and plan.  Have you not
seen this?  Can you fail to have understood my wishes?  I had not
waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think
you must have penetrated mine.  I can hardly write.  I am every instant
hearing something which overpowers me.  You sink your voice, but I can
distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others.
Too good, too excellent creature!  You do us justice, indeed.  You do
believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men.  Believe
it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W.

"I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow
your party, as soon as possible.  A word, a look, will be enough to
decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never."


Such a letter was not to be soon recovered from.  Half an hour's
solitude and reflection might have tranquillized her; but the ten
minutes only which now passed before she was interrupted, with all the
restraints of her situation, could do nothing towards tranquillity.
Every moment rather brought fresh agitation.  It was overpowering
happiness.  And before she was beyond the first stage of full
sensation, Charles, Mary, and Henrietta all came in.

The absolute necessity of seeming like herself produced then an
immediate struggle; but after a while she could do no more.  She began
not to understand a word they said, and was obliged to plead
indisposition and excuse herself.  They could then see that she looked
very ill, were shocked and concerned, and would not stir without her
for the world.  This was dreadful.  Would they only have gone away, and
left her in the quiet possession of that room it would have been her
cure; but to have them all standing or waiting around her was
distracting, and in desperation, she said she would go home.

"By all means, my dear," cried Mrs Musgrove, "go home directly, and
take care of yourself, that you may be fit for the evening.  I wish
Sarah was here to doctor you, but I am no doctor myself.  Charles, ring
and order a chair.  She must not walk."

But the chair would never do.  Worse than all!  To lose the possibility
of speaking two words to Captain Wentworth in the course of her quiet,
solitary progress up the town (and she felt almost certain of meeting
him) could not be borne.  The chair was earnestly protested against,
and Mrs Musgrove, who thought only of one sort of illness, having
assured herself with some anxiety, that there had been no fall in the
case; that Anne had not at any time lately slipped down, and got a blow
on her head; that she was perfectly convinced of having had no fall;
could part with her cheerfully, and depend on finding her better at
night.

Anxious to omit no possible precaution, Anne struggled, and said--

"I am afraid, ma'am, that it is not perfectly understood.  Pray be so
good as to mention to the other gentlemen that we hope to see your
whole party this evening.  I am afraid there had been some mistake; and
I wish you particularly to assure Captain Harville and Captain
Wentworth, that we hope to see them both."

"Oh! my dear, it is quite understood, I give you my word.  Captain
Harville has no thought but of going."

"Do you think so?  But I am afraid; and I should be so very sorry.
Will you promise me to mention it, when you see them again?  You will
see them both this morning, I dare say.  Do promise me."

"To be sure I will, if you wish it.  Charles, if you see Captain
Harville anywhere, remember to give Miss Anne's message.  But indeed,
my dear, you need not be uneasy.  Captain Harville holds himself quite
engaged, I'll answer for it; and Captain Wentworth the same, I dare
say."

Anne could do no more; but her heart prophesied some mischance to damp
the perfection of her felicity.  It could not be very lasting, however.
Even if he did not come to Camden Place himself, it would be in her
power to send an intelligible sentence by Captain Harville.  Another
momentary vexation occurred.  Charles, in his real concern and good
nature, would go home with her; there was no preventing him.  This was
almost cruel.  But she could not be long ungrateful; he was sacrificing
an engagement at a gunsmith's, to be of use to her; and she set off
with him, with no feeling but gratitude apparent.

They were on Union Street, when a quicker step behind, a something of
familiar sound, gave her two moments' preparation for the sight of
Captain Wentworth.  He joined them; but, as if irresolute whether to
join or to pass on, said nothing, only looked.  Anne could command
herself enough to receive that look, and not repulsively.  The cheeks
which had been pale now glowed, and the movements which had hesitated
were decided.  He walked by her side.  Presently, struck by a sudden
thought, Charles said--

"Captain Wentworth, which way are you going?  Only to Gay Street, or
farther up the town?"

"I hardly know," replied Captain Wentworth, surprised.

"Are you going as high as Belmont?  Are you going near Camden Place?
Because, if you are, I shall have no scruple in asking you to take my
place, and give Anne your arm to her father's door.  She is rather done
for this morning, and must not go so far without help, and I ought to
be at that fellow's in the Market Place.  He promised me the sight of a
capital gun he is just going to send off; said he would keep it
unpacked to the last possible moment, that I might see it; and if I do
not turn back now, I have no chance.  By his description, a good deal
like the second size double-barrel of mine, which you shot with one day
round Winthrop."

There could not be an objection.  There could be only the most proper
alacrity, a most obliging compliance for public view; and smiles reined
in and spirits dancing in private rapture.  In half a minute Charles
was at the bottom of Union Street again, and the other two proceeding
together:  and soon words enough had passed between them to decide
their direction towards the comparatively quiet and retired gravel
walk, where the power of conversation would make the present hour a
blessing indeed, and prepare it for all the immortality which the
happiest recollections of their own future lives could bestow.  There
they exchanged again those feelings and those promises which had once
before seemed to secure everything, but which had been followed by so
many, many years of division and estrangement.  There they returned
again into the past, more exquisitely happy, perhaps, in their
re-union, than when it had been first projected; more tender, more
tried, more fixed in a knowledge of each other's character, truth, and
attachment; more equal to act, more justified in acting.  And there, as
they slowly paced the gradual ascent, heedless of every group around
them, seeing neither sauntering politicians, bustling housekeepers,
flirting girls, nor nursery-maids and children, they could indulge in
those retrospections and acknowledgements, and especially in those
explanations of what had directly preceded the present moment, which
were so poignant and so ceaseless in interest.  All the little
variations of the last week were gone through; and of yesterday and
today there could scarcely be an end.

She had not mistaken him.  Jealousy of Mr Elliot had been the retarding
weight, the doubt, the torment.  That had begun to operate in the very
hour of first meeting her in Bath; that had returned, after a short
suspension, to ruin the concert; and that had influenced him in
everything he had said and done, or omitted to say and do, in the last
four-and-twenty hours.  It had been gradually yielding to the better
hopes which her looks, or words, or actions occasionally encouraged; it
had been vanquished at last by those sentiments and those tones which
had reached him while she talked with Captain Harville; and under the
irresistible governance of which he had seized a sheet of paper, and
poured out his feelings.

Of what he had then written, nothing was to be retracted or qualified.
He persisted in having loved none but her.  She had never been
supplanted.  He never even believed himself to see her equal.  Thus
much indeed he was obliged to acknowledge:  that he had been constant
unconsciously, nay unintentionally; that he had meant to forget her,
and believed it to be done.  He had imagined himself indifferent, when
he had only been angry; and he had been unjust to her merits, because
he had been a sufferer from them.  Her character was now fixed on his
mind as perfection itself, maintaining the loveliest medium of
fortitude and gentleness; but he was obliged to acknowledge that only
at Uppercross had he learnt to do her justice, and only at Lyme had he
begun to understand himself.  At Lyme, he had received lessons of more
than one sort.  The passing admiration of Mr Elliot had at least roused
him, and the scenes on the Cobb and at Captain Harville's had fixed her
superiority.

In his preceding attempts to attach himself to Louisa Musgrove (the
attempts of angry pride), he protested that he had for ever felt it to
be impossible; that he had not cared, could not care, for Louisa;
though till that day, till the leisure for reflection which followed
it, he had not understood the perfect excellence of the mind with which
Louisa's could so ill bear a comparison, or the perfect unrivalled hold
it possessed over his own.  There, he had learnt to distinguish between
the steadiness of principle and the obstinacy of self-will, between the
darings of heedlessness and the resolution of a collected mind.  There
he had seen everything to exalt in his estimation the woman he had
lost; and there begun to deplore the pride, the folly, the madness of
resentment, which had kept him from trying to regain her when thrown in
his way.

From that period his penance had become severe.  He had no sooner been
free from the horror and remorse attending the first few days of
Louisa's accident, no sooner begun to feel himself alive again, than he
had begun to feel himself, though alive, not at liberty.

"I found," said he, "that I was considered by Harville an engaged man!
That neither Harville nor his wife entertained a doubt of our mutual
attachment.  I was startled and shocked.  To a degree, I could
contradict this instantly; but, when I began to reflect that others
might have felt the same--her own family, nay, perhaps herself--I was
no longer at my own disposal.  I was hers in honour if she wished it.
I had been unguarded.  I had not thought seriously on this subject
before.  I had not considered that my excessive intimacy must have its
danger of ill consequence in many ways; and that I had no right to be
trying whether I could attach myself to either of the girls, at the
risk of raising even an unpleasant report, were there no other ill
effects.  I had been grossly wrong, and must abide the consequences."

He found too late, in short, that he had entangled himself; and that
precisely as he became fully satisfied of his not caring for Louisa at
all, he must regard himself as bound to her, if her sentiments for him
were what the Harvilles supposed.  It determined him to leave Lyme, and
await her complete recovery elsewhere.  He would gladly weaken, by any
fair means, whatever feelings or speculations concerning him might
exist; and he went, therefore, to his brother's, meaning after a while
to return to Kellynch, and act as circumstances might require.

"I was six weeks with Edward," said he, "and saw him happy.  I could
have no other pleasure.  I deserved none.  He enquired after you very
particularly; asked even if you were personally altered, little
suspecting that to my eye you could never alter."

Anne smiled, and let it pass.  It was too pleasing a blunder for a
reproach.  It is something for a woman to be assured, in her
eight-and-twentieth year, that she has not lost one charm of earlier
youth; but the value of such homage was inexpressibly increased to
Anne, by comparing it with former words, and feeling it to be the
result, not the cause of a revival of his warm attachment.

He had remained in Shropshire, lamenting the blindness of his own
pride, and the blunders of his own calculations, till at once released
from Louisa by the astonishing and felicitous intelligence of her
engagement with Benwick.

"Here," said he, "ended the worst of my state; for now I could at least
put myself in the way of happiness; I could exert myself; I could do
something.  But to be waiting so long in inaction, and waiting only for
evil, had been dreadful.  Within the first five minutes I said, 'I will
be at Bath on Wednesday,' and I was.  Was it unpardonable to think it
worth my while to come? and to arrive with some degree of hope?  You
were single.  It was possible that you might retain the feelings of the
past, as I did; and one encouragement happened to be mine.  I could
never doubt that you would be loved and sought by others, but I knew to
a certainty that you had refused one man, at least, of better
pretensions than myself; and I could not help often saying, 'Was this
for me?'"

Their first meeting in Milsom Street afforded much to be said, but the
concert still more.  That evening seemed to be made up of exquisite
moments.  The moment of her stepping forward in the Octagon Room to
speak to him:  the moment of Mr Elliot's appearing and tearing her
away, and one or two subsequent moments, marked by returning hope or
increasing despondency, were dwelt on with energy.

"To see you," cried he, "in the midst of those who could not be my
well-wishers; to see your cousin close by you, conversing and smiling,
and feel all the horrible eligibilities and proprieties of the match!
To consider it as the certain wish of every being who could hope to
influence you!  Even if your own feelings were reluctant or
indifferent, to consider what powerful supports would be his!  Was it
not enough to make the fool of me which I appeared?  How could I look
on without agony?  Was not the very sight of the friend who sat behind
you, was not the recollection of what had been, the knowledge of her
influence, the indelible, immoveable impression of what persuasion had
once done--was it not all against me?"

"You should have distinguished," replied Anne.  "You should not have
suspected me now; the case is so different, and my age is so different.
If I was wrong in yielding to persuasion once, remember that it was to
persuasion exerted on the side of safety, not of risk.  When I yielded,
I thought it was to duty, but no duty could be called in aid here.  In
marrying a man indifferent to me, all risk would have been incurred,
and all duty violated."

"Perhaps I ought to have reasoned thus," he replied, "but I could not.
I could not derive benefit from the late knowledge I had acquired of
your character.  I could not bring it into play; it was overwhelmed,
buried, lost in those earlier feelings which I had been smarting under
year after year.  I could think of you only as one who had yielded, who
had given me up, who had been influenced by any one rather than by me.
I saw you with the very person who had guided you in that year of
misery.  I had no reason to believe her of less authority now.  The
force of habit was to be added."

"I should have thought," said Anne, "that my manner to yourself might
have spared you much or all of this."

"No, no! your manner might be only the ease which your engagement to
another man would give.  I left you in this belief; and yet, I was
determined to see you again.  My spirits rallied with the morning, and
I felt that I had still a motive for remaining here."

At last Anne was at home again, and happier than any one in that house
could have conceived.  All the surprise and suspense, and every other
painful part of the morning dissipated by this conversation, she
re-entered the house so happy as to be obliged to find an alloy in some
momentary apprehensions of its being impossible to last.  An interval
of meditation, serious and grateful, was the best corrective of
everything dangerous in such high-wrought felicity; and she went to her
room, and grew steadfast and fearless in the thankfulness of her
enjoyment.

The evening came, the drawing-rooms were lighted up, the company
assembled.  It was but a card party, it was but a mixture of those who
had never met before, and those who met too often; a commonplace
business, too numerous for intimacy, too small for variety; but Anne
had never found an evening shorter.  Glowing and lovely in sensibility
and happiness, and more generally admired than she thought about or
cared for, she had cheerful or forbearing feelings for every creature
around her.  Mr Elliot was there; she avoided, but she could pity him.
The Wallises, she had amusement in understanding them.  Lady Dalrymple
and Miss Carteret--they would soon be innoxious cousins to her.  She
cared not for Mrs Clay, and had nothing to blush for in the public
manners of her father and sister.  With the Musgroves, there was the
happy chat of perfect ease; with Captain Harville, the kind-hearted
intercourse of brother and sister; with Lady Russell, attempts at
conversation, which a delicious consciousness cut short; with Admiral
and Mrs Croft, everything of peculiar cordiality and fervent interest,
which the same consciousness sought to conceal; and with Captain
Wentworth, some moments of communications continually occurring, and
always the hope of more, and always the knowledge of his being there.

It was in one of these short meetings, each apparently occupied in
admiring a fine display of greenhouse plants, that she said--

"I have been thinking over the past, and trying impartially to judge of
the right and wrong, I mean with regard to myself; and I must believe
that I was right, much as I suffered from it, that I was perfectly
right in being guided by the friend whom you will love better than you
do now.  To me, she was in the place of a parent.  Do not mistake me,
however.  I am not saying that she did not err in her advice.  It was,
perhaps, one of those cases in which advice is good or bad only as the
event decides; and for myself, I certainly never should, in any
circumstance of tolerable similarity, give such advice.  But I mean,
that I was right in submitting to her, and that if I had done
otherwise, I should have suffered more in continuing the engagement
than I did even in giving it up, because I should have suffered in my
conscience.  I have now, as far as such a sentiment is allowable in
human nature, nothing to reproach myself with; and if I mistake not, a
strong sense of duty is no bad part of a woman's portion."

He looked at her, looked at Lady Russell, and looking again at her,
replied, as if in cool deliberation--

"Not yet.  But there are hopes of her being forgiven in time.  I trust
to being in charity with her soon.  But I too have been thinking over
the past, and a  question has suggested itself, whether there may not
have been one person more my enemy even than that lady?  My own self.
Tell me if, when I returned to England in the year eight, with a few
thousand pounds, and was posted into the Laconia, if I had then written
to you, would you have answered my letter?  Would you, in short, have
renewed the engagement then?"

"Would I!" was all her answer; but the accent was decisive enough.

"Good God!" he cried, "you would!  It is not that I did not think of
it, or desire it, as what could alone crown all my other success; but I
was proud, too proud to ask again.  I did not understand you.  I shut
my eyes, and would not understand you, or do you justice.  This is a
recollection which ought to make me forgive every one sooner than
myself.  Six years of separation and suffering might have been spared.
It is a sort of pain, too, which is new to me.  I have been used to the
gratification of believing myself to earn every blessing that I
enjoyed.  I have valued myself on honourable toils and just rewards.
Like other great men under reverses," he added, with a smile. "I must
endeavour to subdue my mind to my fortune.  I must learn to brook being
happier than I deserve."



　　安妮同史密斯夫人的谈话才过去一天，可她又遇到了使她更感兴趣的事情，现在对于埃利奥特先生的行为，除了有个方面造成的后果还使她感到关切以外，别的方面她已经不大感兴趣了，因此到了第二天早晨，理所当然地要再次推迟到里弗斯街说明真情。她先前答应过，早饭后陪默斯格罗夫太太一行玩到吃中饭。她信守自己的诺言，于是，埃利奥特先生的声誉可以像山鲁佐德王后的脑袋一样，再保全一天。
　　可是她未能准时赴约。天不作美，下起雨来，她先为她的朋友和她自己担忧了一阵，然后才开始往外走。当她来到白哈特旅馆，走进她要找的房间时，发现自己既不及时，也不是头一个到达。她面前就有好几个人，默斯格罗夫太太在同克罗夫特夫人说话，哈维尔上校在同温特沃思上校交谈。她当即听说，玛丽和亨丽埃塔等得不耐烦，天一晴就出去了，不过很快就会回来。她们还责成默斯格罗夫太太，千万要叫安妮等她们回来。安妮只好遵命，坐下来，表面上装得很镇静，心里却顿时觉得激动不安起来。本来，她只是料想在上午结束之前，才能尝到一些激动不安的滋味，现在却好，没有拖延，没有耽搁，她当即便陷入了如此痛苦的幸福之中，或是如此幸福的痛苦之中。她走进屋子两分钟，只听温特沃思上校说道：
　　“哈维尔，我们刚才说到写信的事，你要是给我纸笔，我们现在就写吧。”
　　纸笔就在跟前，放在另外一张桌子上。温特沃思上校走过去，几乎是背朝着大家坐下，全神贯注地写了起来。
　　默斯格罗夫太太在向克罗夫特夫人介绍她大女儿的订婚经过，用的还是那个令人讨厌的语气，一面假装窃窃私语，一面又让众人听得一清二楚。安妮觉得自己与这谈话没有关系，可是，由于哈维尔上校似乎思虑重重，无心说话，因此安妮不可避免地要听到许多有伤大雅的细节，比如，默斯格罗夫先生和她妹夫海特如何一再接触，反复商量啊，她妹夫海特某日说了什么话，默斯格罗夫先生隔日又提出了什么建议啊，他妹妹海特夫人有些什么想法啦，年轻人有些什么意愿啦，默斯格罗夫太太起先说什么也不同意，后来听了别人的劝说，觉得倒挺合适啦，她就这样直言不讳地说了一大堆。这些细枝末节，即使说得十分文雅，十分得体，也只能使那些对此有切身利害关系的人感到兴趣，何况善良的默斯格罗夫太太还不具备这种情趣和雅致。克罗夫特夫人听得津津有味，她不说话则已，一说起话来总是很有分寸。安妮希望，那些男客能个个自顾不暇，听不见默斯格罗夫太太说的话。
　　“就这样，夫人，把这些情况通盘考虑一下，”默斯格罗夫太太用她那高门大嗓的窃窃私语说道，“虽说我们可能不希望这样做，但是我们觉得再拖下去也不是个办法，因为查尔斯·海特都快急疯了，亨丽埃塔也同样心急火燎的，所以我们认为最好让他们马上成亲，尽量把婚事办得体面些，就像许多人在他们前面所做的那样。我说过，无论如何，这比长期订婚要好。”
　　“我也正想这样说，”克罗夫特夫人嚷道。“我宁肯让青年人凭着一小笔收入马上成亲，一起来同困难作斗争，也不愿让他们卷入长期的订婚。我总是认为，没有相互间……”
　　“哦！亲爱的克罗夫特夫人，”默斯格罗夫太太等不及让她把话说完，便大声嚷了起来，“我最厌烦让青年人长期订婚啦。我总是反对自己的孩子长期订婚。我过去常说，青年人订婚是件大好事，如果他们有把握能在六个月，甚至十二个月内结婚的话。可是长期订婚！”
　　“是的，太太，”克罗夫特夫人说道，“或者说是不大牢靠的订婚，可能拖得很长的订婚，都不可取。开始的时候还不知道在某时某刻有没有能力结婚，我觉得这很不稳妥，很不明智，我认为所有做父母的应当极力加以阻止。”
　　安妮听到这里，不想来了兴趣。她觉得这话是针对她说的，浑身顿时紧张起来。在这同时，她的眼睛本能地朝远处的桌子那里望去，只见温特沃思上校停住笔，仰起头，静静地听着。随即，他转过脸，迅疾而会心地对安妮看了一眼。
　　两位夫人还在继续交谈，一再强调那些公认的真理，并且用自己观察到的事例加以印证，说明背道而驰要带来不良的后果。可惜安妮什么也没听清楚，她们的话只在她耳朵里嗡嗡作响，她的心里乱糟糟的。
　　哈维尔上校的确是一句话也没听见，现在离开座位，走到窗口，安妮似乎是在注视他，虽说这完全是心不在焉造成的。她渐渐注意到，哈维尔上校在请她到他那里去。只见他笑嘻嘻地望着自己，脑袋略微一点，意思是说：“到我这里来，我有话对你说。”他的态度真挚大方，和蔼可亲，好像早就是老朋友似的，因而显得更加盛情难却。安妮立起身来，朝他那儿走去。哈维尔上校伫立的窗口位于屋子的一端，两位夫人坐在另一端，虽说距离温特沃思上校的桌子近了些，但还不是很近。当安妮走至他跟前时，哈维尔上校的面部又摆出一副认真思索的表情，看来这是他脸上的自然特征。
　　“你瞧，”他说，一面打开手里的一个小包，展示出一幅小型画像。“你知道这是谁吗？” ．
　　“当然知道。是本威克中校。”
　　“是的。你猜得出来这是送给谁的。不过，”哈维尔带着深沉的语气说，“这原先可不是为她画的。埃利奥特小姐，你还记得我们一起在莱姆散步，心里为他忧伤的情景吗？我当时万万没有想到——不过那无关紧要。这像是在好望角画的。他早先答应送给我那可怜的妹妹一幅画像，在好望角遇到一位很有才华的年轻德国画家，就让他画了一幅，带回来送给我妹妹。我现在却负责让人把像装帧好，送给另一个人。这事偏偏委托给我！不过他还能委托谁呢？我希望我能谅解他。把画像转交给另一个人，我的确不感到遗憾。他要这么干的。”他朝温特沃思上校望去，“他正在为此事写信呢。”最后，他嘴唇颤抖地补充说：“可怜的范妮！她可不会这么快就忘记他！”
　　“不会的，”安妮带着低微而感慨的声音答道，“这我不难相信。”
　　“她不是那种性格的人。她太喜爱他了。”
　　“但凡真心相爱的女人，谁都不是那种性格。”
　　哈维尔上校莞尔一笑，说：“你为你们女人打这个包票？”安妮同样嫣然一笑，答道：“是的。我们对你们当然不像你们对我们忘得那么快。也许，这与其说是我们的优点，不如说是命该如此。我们实在没有办法。我们关在家里，生活平平淡淡，总是受到感情的折磨。你们男人不得不劳劳碌碌的。你们总有一项职业，总有这样那样的事务，马上就能回到世事当中，不停的忙碌与变更可以削弱人们的印象。”
　　“就算你说得对（可我不想假定你是对的），认为世事对男人有这么大的威力，见效这么快，可是这并不适用于本威克。他没有被迫劳劳碌碌的。当时天下太平了，他回到岸上，从此便一直同我们生活在一起，生活在我们家庭的小圈子里。”
　　“的确，”安妮说道，“的确如此。我没有想到这一点。不过，现在该怎么说呢，哈维尔上校？如果变化不是来自外在因素，那一定是来自内因。一定是性格，男人的性格帮了本威克中校的忙。”
　　“不，不，不是男人的性格。对自己喜爱或是曾经喜爱过的人朝三暮四，甚至忘情，我不承认这是男人的、而不是女人的本性。我认为恰恰相反。我认为我们的身体和精神状态是完全一致的。因为我们的身体更强壮，我们的感情也更强烈，能经得起惊涛骇浪的考验。”
　　“你们的感情可能更强烈，”安妮答道，“但是本着这身心一致的精神，我可以这样说，我们的感情更加温柔。男人比女人强壮，但是寿命不比女人长，这就恰好说明了我们对他们的感情的看法。要不然的话，你们就会受不了啦。你们要同艰难、困苦和危险作斗争。你们总是在艰苦奋斗，遇到种种艰难险阻。你们离开了家庭、祖国和朋友。时光、健康和生命都不能说是你们自己的。假如再具备女人一样的情感，”她声音颤抖地说，“那就的确太苛刻了。”
　　“在这个问题上，我们的意见永远不会一致，”哈维尔上校刚说了个话头，只听“啪’的一声轻响，把他们的注意力吸引到温特沃思上校所在的地方，那里迄今为止一直是静悄悄的。其实，那只不过是他的笔掉到了地上，可是安妮惊奇地发现，他离她比原来想象的要近。她有点怀疑，他之所以把笔掉到地上，只是因为他在注意他们俩，想听清他们的话音，可安妮觉得，他根本听不清。
　　“你的信写好了没有？”哈维尔上校问道。
　　“没全写好，还差几行。再有五分钟就完了。”
　　“我这里倒不急。只要你准备好了，我也就准备好了。我处在理想锚地，”他对安妮粲然一笑，“供给充足，百无一缺。根本不急于等信号。唔，埃利奥特小姐，”他压低声音说，“正如我刚才所说的，我想在这一点上，我们永远不会意见一致。大概没有哪个男个和哪个女人会取得一致。不过请听我说，所有的历史记载都与你的观点背道而驰——所有的故事、散文和韵文。假如我有本威克那样的记忆力，我马上就能引出五十个事例，来证实我的论点。我想，我生平每打开一本书，总要说到女人的朝三暮四。所有的歌词和谚语都谈到女人的反复无常。不过你也许会说，那都是男人写的。”
　　“也许我是要这么说。是的，是的，请你不要再引用书里的例子。男人比我们具有种种有利条件，可以讲述他们的故事。他们受过比我们高得多的教育，笔杆子握在他们手里。我不承认书本可以证明任何事情。”
　　“可我们如何来证明任何事情呢？”
　　“我们永远证明不了。在这样一个问题上，我们永远证明不了任何东西。这种意见分歧是无法证明的。我们大概从一开头就对自己同性别的人有点偏心。基于这种偏心，便用发生在我们周围的一起起事件，来为自己同性别的人辩护。这些事件有许多（也许正是那些给我们的印象最深刻），一旦提出来，就势必要吐露一些隐衷，或者在某些方面说些不该说的话。”
　　“啊！”哈维尔上校大声叫道，声音很激动，“当一个人最后看一眼自己的老婆孩子，眼巴巴地望着把他们送走的小船，直到看不见为止，然后转过身来，说了声：‘天晓得我们还会不会再见面！’我真希望能使你理解，此时此刻他有多么痛苦啊！同时，我真希望让你知道，当他再次见到老婆孩子时，心里有多么激动啊！当他也许离别了一年之后，终于回来了，奉命驶入另一港口，他便盘算什么时候能把老婆孩子接到身边，假装欺骗自己说：‘他们要到某某日才能到达。’可他一直在希望他们能早到十二个小时，而最后看见他们还早到了好多个小时，犹如上帝给他们插上了翅膀似的，他心里有多么激动啊！我要是能向你说明这一切，说明一个人为了他生命中的那些宝贝疙瘩，能够承受多大的磨难，做出多大的努力，而且以此为荣，那该有多好！你知道，我说的只是那些有心肠的人！”说着，激动地按了按自己的心。
　　“哦！”安妮急忙嚷道，“我希望自己能充分理解你的情感，理解类似你们这种人的情感。我决不能低估我的同胞热烈而忠贞的感情！假如我胆敢认为只有女人才懂得坚贞不渝的爱情，那么我就活该受人鄙视。不，我相信你们在婚后生活中，能够做出种种崇高而美好的事情。我相信你们能够做出一切重大努力，能够对家人百般克制，只要你们心里有个目标——如果我可以这样说的话。我是说，只要你们的恋人还活着，而且为你们活着。我认为我们女人的长处（这不是个令人羡慕的长处，你们不必为之垂涎），就在于她们对于自己的恋人，即便人不在世，或是失去希望，也能天长日久地爱下去！”
　　一时之间，她再也说不出一句话了，只觉得心里百感交集，气都快透不出来了。
　　“你真是个贤惠的女人，”哈维尔上校叫道，一面十分亲热地把手搭在她的胳臂上。“没法同你争论。况且我一想起本威克，就无话可说了。”
　　这时，他们的注意力被吸引到众人那里。克罗夫特夫人正在告辞。
　　“弗雷德里克，我想我俩要分手啦，”她说。“我要回家，你和朋友还有事干。今晚我们大家要在你们的晚会上再次相会，”她转向安妮。“我们昨天接到你姐姐的请帖，我听说弗雷德里克也接到了请帖，不过我没见到。弗雷德里克，你是不是像我们一样，今晚有空去呢？”
　　温特沃思上校正在急急忙忙地叠信，不是顾不得，就是不愿意认真回答。
　　“是的，”他说，“的确如此。你先走吧，哈维尔和我随后就来。这就是说，哈维尔，你要是准备好了，我再有半分钟就完了。我知道你想走，我再过半分钟就陪你走。”
　　克罗夫特夫人告辞了。温特沃思上校火速封好信，的的确确忙完了，甚至露出一副仓促不安的神气，表明他一心急着要走。安妮有些莫名其妙。哈维尔上校十分亲切地向她说了声：“再见，愿上帝保佑你！”可温特沃思上校却一声不响，连看都不看一眼，就这样走出了屋子！
　　安妮刚刚走近他先前伏在上面写信的那张桌子，忽听有人回屋的脚步声。房门打开了，回来的正是温特沃思上校。他说请原谅，他忘了拿手套，当即穿过屋子，来到写字台跟前，背对着默斯格罗夫太太，从一把散乱的信纸底下抽出一封信，放在安妮面前，用深情、恳切的目光凝视了她一阵，然后匆匆拾起手套，又走出了屋子，搞得默斯格罗夫太太几乎不知道他回来过，可见动作之神速！
　　霎时间，安妮心里引起的变化简直无法形容。明摆着，这就是他刚才匆匆忙忙在折叠的那封信,收信人为“安·埃利奥特小姐”，字迹几乎辨认不清。人们原以为他仅仅在给本威克中校写信，不想他还在给她安妮写信！安妮的整个命运全系在这封信的内容上了。什么情况都有可能出现，而她什么情况都可以顶得住，就是等不及要看个究竟。默斯格罗夫太太正坐在自己的桌前,忙着处理自己的一些琐事，因此不会注意安妮在干什么，于是她一屁股坐进温特沃思上校坐过的椅子，伏在他方才伏案写信的地方，两眼贪婪地读起信来：
　　我再也不能默默地倾听了。我必须用我力所能及的方式向你表明：你的话刺痛了我的心灵。我是半怀着痛苦，半怀着希望。请你不要对我说：我表白得太晚了，那种珍贵的感情已经一去不复返了。八年半以前，我的心几乎被你扯碎了，现在我怀着一颗更加忠于你的心，再次向你求婚。我不敢说男人比女人忘情快，绝情也快。我除了你以外没有爱过任何人。我可能不够公平，可能意志薄弱，满腹怨恨，但是我从未见异思迁过。只是为了你，我才来到了巴思。我的一切考虑、一切打算，都是为了你一个人。你难道看不出来吗？你难道不理解我的心意吗？假如我能摸透你的心思（就像我认为你摸透了我的心思那样），我连这十天也等不及的。我简直写不下去了。我时时刻刻都在听到一些使我倾倒的话。你压低了声音，可是你那语气别人听不出，我可辨得清。你真是太贤惠，太高尚了！你的确对我们做出了公正的评价。你相信男人当中也存在着真正的爱情与忠贞。请相信我最炽烈、最坚定不移的爱情。
　　弗·温
　　我对自己的命运捉摸不定，只好走开。不过我要尽快回到这里，或者跟着你们大家一起走。一句话，一个眼色，便能决定我今晚是到你父亲府上，还是永远不去。
　　读到这样一封信，心情是不会马上平静下来的。假若单独思忖半个钟头，倒可能使她平静下来。可是仅仅过了十分钟，她的思绪便被打断了，再加上她的处境受到种种约束，心里不可能得到平静。相反，每时每刻都在增加她的激动不安。这是无法压抑的幸福。她满怀激动的头一个阶段还没过去，查尔斯、玛丽和亨丽埃塔全都走了进来。
　　她不得不竭力克制，想使自己恢复常态。可是过了一会，她再也坚持不下去了。别人说的话她一个字也听不进去，迫不得已，只好推说身体不好。这时，大家看得出来她气色不好，不禁大吃一惊，深为关切。没有她，他们说什么也不肯出去。这可糟糕透了！这些人只要一走，让她一个人呆在屋里，她倒可能恢复平静。可他们一个个立在她周围，等候着，真叫她心烦意乱。她无可奈何，便说了声要回家。
　　“好的，亲爱的，”默斯格罗夫太太叫道，“赶紧回家，好好休息一下，晚上好能参加晚会。要是萨拉在这儿就好了，可以给你看看病，可惜我不会看。查尔斯，拉铃要台轿子。安妮小姐不能走着回去。”
　　但是，她无论如何也不能坐轿子。那比什么都糟糕！她若是独个儿静悄悄地走在街上，她觉得几乎肯定能遇到温特沃思上校，可以同他说几句话，她说什么也不能失去这个机会。安妮诚恳地说她不要乘轿子，默斯格罗夫太太脑子里只想到一种病痛，便带着几分忧虑地自我安慰说：这次可不是摔跤引起的，安妮最近从没摔倒过，头上没有受过伤，她百分之百地肯定她没摔过跤，因而能高高兴兴地与她分手，相信晚上准能见她有所好转。
　　安妮唯恐有所疏忽，便吃力地说道：
　　“太太，我担心这事没有完全理解清楚。请你告诉另外几位先生，我们希望今晚见到你们所有的人。我担心出现什么误会，希望你特别转告哈维尔上校和温特沃思上校，就说我们希望见到他们二位。”
　　“哦！亲爱的，我向你担保，这大家都明白。哈维尔上校是一心一意要去的。”
　　“你果真这样认为？可我有些担心。他们要是不去，那就太遗憾了。请你答应我，你再见到他们的时候，务必说一声。你今天上午想必还会见到他们俩的。请答应我。”
　　“既然你有这个要求，我一定照办。查尔斯，你不管在哪里见到哈维尔上校，记住把安妮小姐的话转告他。不过，亲爱的，你的确不需要担心。我敢担保，哈维尔上校肯定要光临的。我敢说，温特沃思上校也是如此。”
　　安妮只好就此作罢。可她总是预见会有什么闪失，给她那万分幸福的心头泼上一瓢冷水。然而，这个念头不会持续多久。即使温特沃思上校本人不来卡姆登巷，她完全可以托哈维尔上校捎个明确的口信。
　　霎时间，又出现了一件令人烦恼的事情。查尔斯出于真正的关心和善良的天性，想要把她送回家，怎么阻拦也阻拦不住。这简直是无情！可她又不能一味不知好歹。查尔斯本来要去一家猎熗店，可他为了陪安妮回家，宁可不去那里。于是安妮同他一起出发了，表面上装出一副十分感激的样子。
　　两人来到联盟街，只听到后面有急促的脚步声，这声音有些耳熟，安妮听了一阵以后，才见到是温特沃思上校。他追上了他们俩，但仿佛又有些犹豫不决，不知道该陪着他们一起走，还是超到前面去。他一声不响，只是看着安妮。安妮能够控制自己，可以任他那样看着，而且并不反感。顿时，安妮苍白的面孔现在变得绯红，温特沃思的动作也由踌躇不决变得果断起来。温特沃思上校在她旁边走着。过了一会，查尔斯突然兴起了一个念头，便说：
　　“温特沃思上校，你走哪条路？是去盖伊街，还是去城里更远的地方？”
　　“我也不知道，”温特沃思上校诧异地答道。
　　“你是不是要走到贝尔蒙特街？是不是要走近卡姆登巷？如果是这样的话，我将毫不犹豫地要求你代我把安妮小姐送回家。她今天上午太疲乏了，走这么远的路没有人伴送可不行。我得到市场巷那个家伙的家里。他有一支顶呱呱的熗马上就要发货，答应给我看看。他说他要等到最后再打包，以便让我瞧瞧。我要是现在不往回走，就没有机会了。从他描绘的来看，很像我的那支二号双管熗，就是你有一天拿着在温思罗普附近打猎的那一支。”
　　这不可能遭到反对。在公众看来，只能见到温特沃思上校极有分寸、极有礼貌地欣然接受了。他收敛起笑容，心里暗中却欣喜若狂。过了半分钟，查尔斯又回到了联盟街街口，另外两个人继续一道往前走。不久，他们经过商量，决定朝比较背静的砾石路走去。在那里，他们可以尽情地交谈，使眼下成为名副其实的幸福时刻，当以后无比幸福地回忆他们自己的生活时，也好对这一时刻永志不忘。于是，他们再次谈起了他们当年的感情和诺言，这些感情和诺言一度曾使一切都显得万无一失，但是后来却使他们分离疏远了这么多年。谈着谈着，他们又回到了过去，对他们的重新团聚也许比最初设想的还要喜不自胜，他们了解了彼此的品格、忠心和情意，双方变得更加亲切，更加忠贞，更加坚定，同时也更能表现出米，更有理由表现出来。最后，他们款步向缓坡上爬去，全然不注意周围的人群，既看不见逍遥的政客、忙碌的女管家和调情的少女，也看不见保姆和儿童，一味沉醉在对往事的回顾和反省里，特别是相互说明最近发生了什么情况，这些情况是令人痛楚的，而又具有无穷无尽的兴趣。上星期的一切细小的异常现象全都谈过了，一说起昨天和今天，简直没完没了。
　　安妮没有看错他。对埃利奥特先生的妒嫉成了他的绊脚石，引起了他的疑虑和痛苦。他在巴思第一次见到安妮时，这种妒嫉心便开始作祟，后来收敛了一个短时期，接着又回来作怪，破坏了那场音乐会。在最后二十四小时中，这种妒嫉心左右着他说的每句话，做的每件事，或者左右他不说什么，不做什么。这种妒嫉逐渐让位给更高的希望，安妮的神情、言谈和举动偶尔激起这种希望。当安妮同哈维尔上校说话时，他听到了她的意见和语气，妒嫉心最后终于被克服了，于是他抑制不住内心的激动，抓起一张纸，倾吐了自己的衷肠。
　　他信中写的内容，句句是真情实话，一点也不打折扣。他坚持说，除了安妮以外，他没有爱过任何人。安妮从来没有被别人取代过。他甚至认为，他从没见过有谁能比得上她。的确，他不得不承认这样的事实：他的忠诚是无意识的，或者说是无心的。他本来打算忘掉她，而且相信自己做得到。他以为自己满不在乎，其实他只不过是恼怒而已。他不能公平地看待她的那些优点，因为他吃过它们的苦头。现在，她的性情在他的心目中被视为十全十美的，刚柔适度，可爱至极。不过他不得不承认：他只是在莱姆才开始公正地看待她，也只是在莱姆才开始了解他自己。
　　在莱姆，他受到了不止一种教训。埃利奥特先生在那一瞬间的倾慕之情至少激励了他，而他在码头上和哈维尔上校家里见到的情景，则使他认清了安妮的卓越不凡。
　　先前，他出于嗔怒与傲慢，试图去追求路易莎·默斯格罗夫，他说他始终觉得那是不可能的，他不喜欢、也不可能喜欢路易莎。
　　直到那天，直到后来得暇仔细思考，才认识到安妮那崇高的心灵是路易莎无法比拟的，这颗心无比牢固地攫住了他自己的心。从这里，他认清了坚持原则与固执己见的区别，胆大妄为与冷静果断的区别。从这里，他发现他失去的这位女子处处使他肃然起敬。他开始懊悔自己的傲慢、愚蠢和满腹怨恨，由于有这些思想在作怪，等安妮来到他面前时，他又不肯努力去重新赢得她。
　　自打那时起，他便感到了极度的愧疚。他刚从路易莎出事后头几天的惊恐和悔恨中解脱出来，刚刚觉得自己又恢复了活力，却又开始认识到，自己虽有活力，但却失去了自由。
　　“我发现，”他说，“哈维尔认为我已经订婚了！哈维尔和他妻子毫不怀疑我们之间的钟情。我感到大为震惊。在某种程度上，我可以立即表示异议，可是转念一想，别人可能也有同样的看法——她的家人，也许还有她自己——这时我就不能自己作主了。如果路易莎有这个愿望的话，我在道义上是属于她的。我太不审慎了，在这个向题上一向没有认真思考。我没有想到，我同她们的过分亲近竟会产生如此众多的不良后果。我没有权利试图看看能否爱上两姐妹中的一个，这样做即使不会造成别的恶果，也会引起流言蜚语。我犯了一个严重的错误，只得自食其果。”
　　总而言之，他发觉得太晚了，他已经陷进去了。就在他确信他压根儿不喜欢路易莎的时候，他却必须认定自己同她拴在了一起，假如她对他的感情确如哈维尔夫妇想象的那样。为此，他决定离开莱姆，到别处等候她痊愈。他很乐意采取任何正当的手段，来削弱人们对他现有的看法和揣测。因此他去找他哥哥，打算过一段时间再回到凯林奇，以便见机行事。
　　“我和爱德华在一起呆了六个星期，”他说，“发现他很幸福。我不可能有别的欢乐了。我不配有任何欢乐。爱德华特地询问了你的情况，甚至还问到你人变样了没有，他根本没有想到：在我的心目中，你永远不会变样。”
　　安妮嫣然一笑，没有言语。他这话固然说得不对，但又非常悦耳，实在不好指责。一个女人活到二十八岁，还听人说自己丝毫没有失去早年的青春魅力，这倒是一种安慰。不过对于安妮来说，这番溢美之词却具有无法形容的更加重大的意义，因为同他先前的言词比较起来，她觉得这是他恢复深情厚意的结果，而不是起因。
　　他一直呆在希罗普郡，悔恨自己不该盲目骄傲，不该失算，后来惊喜地听到路易莎和本威克订婚的消息，他立刻从路易莎的约束下解脱出来。
　　“这样一来，”他说，“我最可悲的状况结束了，因为我至少可以有机会获得幸福。我可以努力，可以想办法。可是，如果一筹莫展地等了那么长时间，而等来的只是一场不幸，这真叫人感到可怕。我听到消息不到五分钟，就这样说：‘我星期三就去巴思。’结果我来了。我认为很值得跑一趟，来的时候还带着几分希望，这难道不情有可原吗？你没有结婚，可能像我一样，还保留着过去的情意，碰巧我又受到了鼓励。我决不怀疑别人会爱你，追求你，不过我确知你至少拒绝过一个条件比我优越的人，我情不由己地常说；‘这是为了我吧？”
　　他们在米尔萨姆街的头一次见面有许多东西可以谈论，不过那次音乐会可谈的更多。那天晚上似乎充满了奇妙的时刻。一会儿，安妮在八角厅里走上前去同他说话；一会儿，埃利奥特先生进来把她拉走了；后来又有一两次，忽而重新浮现出希望，忽而愈发感到失望。两人劲头十足地谈个不停。
　　“看见你呆在那些不喜欢我的人们当中，”他大声说道，“看见你堂兄凑在你跟前，又是说又是笑，觉得你们真是天造地设的一对！再一想，这肯定是那些想左右你的每个人的心愿！即使你自己心里不愿意，或是不感兴趣，想想看他有多么强大的后盾！我看上去傻乎乎的，难道这还不足以愚弄我？我在一旁看了怎能不痛苦？一看见你的朋友坐在你的身后，一回想起过去的事情，知道她有那么大的影响，对她的劝导威力留下了不可磨灭的印象，难道这一切不都对我大为不利吗？”
　　“你应该有所区别，”安妮回答。“你现在不应该怀疑我。情况大不相同了，我的年龄也不同了。如果说我以前不该听信别人的劝导，请记住他们那样劝导我是为了谨慎起见，不想让我担当风险。我当初服从的时候，我认为那是服从义务，可在这个问题上不能求助于义务。假如我嫁给一个对我无情无意的人，那就可能招致种种风险，违背一切义务。”
　　“也许我该这么考虑，”他答道，“可惜我做不到。我最近才认识了你的人品，可我无法从中获得裨益。我无法使这种认识发挥作用，这种认识早被以前的感情所淹没，所葬送，多少年来，我吃尽了那些感情的苦头。我一想起你，只知道你屈从了，抛弃了我，你谁的话都肯听，就是不肯听我的话。我看见你和在那痛苦的年头左右你的那个人呆在一起，我没有理由相信，她现在的权威不及以前高了。这还要加上习惯势力的影响。”
　　“我还以为，”安妮说，“我对你的态度可能消除了你不少、甚至全部的疑虑。”
　　“不，不！你的态度只能使人觉得，你和另一个男人订了婚，也就心安理得了。我抱着这样的信念离开了你，可我打定主意还要再见见你。到了早上，我的精神又振作起来，我觉得我还应该呆在这里。”
　　最后，安妮又回到家里，一家人谁也想象不到她会那么快乐。早晨的诧异、忧虑以及其他种种痛苦的感觉，统统被这次谈话驱散了，她乐不可支地回到屋里，以至于不得不煞煞风景，霎时间担心这会好景不长。在这大喜过望之际，要防止一切危险的最好办法，还是怀着庆幸的心情，认真地思考一番。于是她来到自己的房间，在欣喜庆幸之余，变得坚定无畏起来。
　　夜幕降临了，客厅里灯火通明，宾主们聚集一堂。所谓的晚会，只不过打打牌而已。来宾中不是从未见过面的，就是见得过于频繁的。真是一次平平常常的聚会，搞得亲热一些吧，嫌人太多，搞得丰富多彩一些吧，嫌人太少。可是，安妮从没感到还有比这更短暂的夜晚。她心里一高兴，显得满面春风，十分可爱，结果比她想象或是期望的还要令众人赞羡不已，而她对周围的每个人，也充满了喜悦或是包涵之情。埃利奥特先生也来了，安妮尽量避开他，不过尚能给以同情。沃利斯夫妇，她很乐意结识他们。达尔林普尔夫人和卡特雷特小姐——她们很快就能成为她的不再是可憎的远亲了。她不去理会克莱夫人，对她父亲和姐姐的公开举止也没有什么好脸红的。她同默斯格罗夫一家人说起话来，自由自在，好不愉快。与哈维尔上校谈得情恳意切，如同兄妹。她试图和拉塞尔夫人说说话，但几次都被一种微妙的心理所打断。她对克罗夫特将军和夫人更是热诚非凡，兴致勃勃，只是出于同样的微妙心理，千方百计地加以掩饰。她同温特沃思上校交谈了好几次，但总是希望再多谈几次，而且总是晓得他就在近前。
　　就在一次短暂的接触中，两人装着在欣赏丰富多彩的温室植物，安妮说道：
　　“我一直在考虑过去，想公平地明辨一下是非，我是说对我自己。我应该相信，我当初听从朋友的劝告，尽管吃尽了苦头，但还是正确的，完全正确的。将来你会比现在更喜爱我的这位朋友。对于我来说，她是处于做母亲的地位。不过，请你不要误解我。我并非说，她的劝告没有错误。这也许就属于这样一种情况：劝告是好是赖只能由事情本身来决定。就我而言，在任何类似情况下，我当然决不会提出这样的劝告。不过我的意思是说，我听从她的劝告是正确的，否则，我若是继续保持婚约的话，将比放弃婚约遭受更大的痛苦，因为我会受到．良心的责备。只要人类允许良知存在的话，我现在没有什么好责备自己的。如果我没说错的话，强烈的责任感是女人的一份不坏的嫁妆。”
　　温特沃思上校先瞧瞧她，再看看拉塞尔夫人，然后又望着她，好像在沉思地答道：
　　“我尚未原谅她，可是迟早会原谅她的。我希望很快就能宽容她。不过我也在考虑过去，脑子里浮现出一个问题；我是否有一个比那位夫人更可恶的敌人？我自己。请告诉我：一八O八年我回到英国，带着几千镑，又被分派到拉科尼亚号上，假如我那时候给你写信，你会回信吗？总之一句话，你会恢复婚约吗？”
　　“我会吗？”这是她的全部回答，不过语气却十分明确。
　　“天啊！”他嚷道，“你会的！这倒不是因为我没有这个想法，或是没有这个欲望，实际上只有这件事才是对我的其他成功的报偿。可是我太傲慢了，不肯再次求婚。我不了解你。我闭上眼睛，不想了解你，不想公正地看待你。一想起这件事，我什么人都该原谅，就是不能原谅自己。这本来可以使我们免受六年的分离和痛苦。一想起这件事，还会给我带来新的痛楚。我一向总是自鸣得意地认为，我应该得到我所享受的一切幸福。我总是自恃劳苦功高，理所当然应该得到报答。我要像其他受到挫折的大人物一样，”他笑吟吟地补充道，“一定要使自己的思想顺从命运的安排，一定要认识到自己比应得的还要幸福。”
  
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一二三四五六七~~~
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Chapter Twenty-four

Who can be in doubt of what followed?  When any two young people take
it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to
carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever
so little likely to be necessary to each other's ultimate comfort.
This may be bad morality to conclude with, but I believe it to be
truth; and if such parties succeed, how should a Captain Wentworth and
an Anne Elliot, with the advantage of maturity of mind, consciousness
of right, and one independent fortune between them, fail of bearing
down every opposition?  They might in fact, have borne down a great
deal more than they met with, for there was little to distress them
beyond the want of graciousness and warmth.  Sir Walter made no
objection, and Elizabeth did nothing worse than look cold and
unconcerned.  Captain Wentworth, with five-and-twenty thousand pounds,
and as high in his profession as merit and activity could place him,
was no longer nobody.  He was now esteemed quite worthy to address the
daughter of a foolish, spendthrift baronet, who had not had principle
or sense enough to maintain himself in the situation in which
Providence had placed him, and who could give his daughter at present
but a small part of the share of ten thousand pounds which must be hers
hereafter.

Sir Walter, indeed, though he had no affection for Anne, and no vanity
flattered, to make him really happy on the occasion, was very far from
thinking it a bad match for her.  On the contrary, when he saw more of
Captain Wentworth, saw him repeatedly by daylight, and eyed him well,
he was very much struck by his personal claims, and felt that his
superiority of appearance might be not unfairly balanced against her
superiority of rank; and all this, assisted by his well-sounding name,
enabled Sir Walter at last to prepare his pen, with a very good grace,
for the insertion of the marriage in the volume of honour.

The only one among them, whose opposition of feeling could excite any
serious anxiety was Lady Russell.  Anne knew that Lady Russell must be
suffering some pain in understanding and relinquishing Mr Elliot, and
be making some struggles to become truly acquainted with, and do
justice to Captain Wentworth.  This however was what Lady Russell had
now to do.  She must learn to feel that she had been mistaken with
regard to both; that she had been unfairly influenced by appearances in
each; that because Captain Wentworth's manners had not suited her own
ideas, she had been too quick in suspecting them to indicate a
character of dangerous impetuosity; and that because Mr Elliot's
manners had precisely pleased her in their propriety and correctness,
their general politeness and suavity, she had been too quick in
receiving them as the certain result of the most correct opinions and
well-regulated mind.  There was nothing less for Lady Russell to do,
than to admit that she had been pretty completely wrong, and to take up
a new set of opinions and of hopes.

There is a quickness of perception in some, a nicety in the discernment
of character, a natural penetration, in short, which no experience in
others can equal, and Lady Russell had been less gifted in this part of
understanding than her young friend.  But she was a very good woman,
and if her second object was to be sensible and well-judging, her first
was to see Anne happy.  She loved Anne better than she loved her own
abilities; and when the awkwardness of the beginning was over, found
little hardship in attaching herself as a mother to the man who was
securing the happiness of her other child.

Of all the family, Mary was probably the one most immediately gratified
by the circumstance.  It was creditable to have a sister married, and
she might flatter herself with having been greatly instrumental to the
connexion, by keeping Anne with her in the autumn; and as her own
sister must be better than her husband's sisters, it was very agreeable
that Captain Wentworth should be a richer man than either Captain
Benwick or Charles Hayter.  She had something to suffer, perhaps, when
they came into contact again, in seeing Anne restored to the rights of
seniority, and the mistress of a very pretty landaulette; but she had a
future to look forward to, of powerful consolation.  Anne had no
Uppercross Hall before her, no landed estate, no headship of a family;
and if they could but keep Captain Wentworth from being made a baronet,
she would not change situations with Anne.

It would be well for the eldest sister if she were equally satisfied
with her situation, for a change is not very probable there.  She had
soon the mortification of seeing Mr Elliot withdraw, and no one of
proper condition has since presented himself to raise even the
unfounded hopes which sunk with him.

The news of his cousins Anne's engagement burst on Mr Elliot most
unexpectedly.  It deranged his best plan of domestic happiness, his
best hope of keeping Sir Walter single by the watchfulness which a
son-in-law's rights would have given.  But, though discomfited and
disappointed, he could still do something for his own interest and his
own enjoyment.  He soon quitted Bath; and on Mrs Clay's quitting it
soon afterwards, and being next heard of as established under his
protection in London, it was evident how double a game he had been
playing, and how determined he was to save himself from being cut out
by one artful woman, at least.

Mrs Clay's affections had overpowered her interest, and she had
sacrificed, for the young man's sake, the possibility of scheming
longer for Sir Walter.  She has abilities, however, as well as
affections; and it is now a doubtful point whether his cunning, or
hers, may finally carry the day; whether, after preventing her from
being the wife of Sir Walter, he may not be wheedled and caressed at
last into making her the wife of Sir William.

It cannot be doubted that Sir Walter and Elizabeth were shocked and
mortified by the loss of their companion, and the discovery of their
deception in her.  They had their great cousins, to be sure, to resort
to for comfort; but they must long feel that to flatter and follow
others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of
half enjoyment.

Anne, satisfied at a very early period of Lady Russell's meaning to
love Captain Wentworth as she ought, had no other alloy to the
happiness of her prospects than what arose from the consciousness of
having no relations to bestow on him which a man of sense could value.
There she felt her own inferiority very keenly.  The disproportion in
their fortune was nothing; it did not give her a moment's regret; but
to have no family to receive and estimate him properly, nothing of
respectability, of harmony, of good will to offer in return for all the
worth and all the prompt welcome which met her in his brothers and
sisters, was a source of as lively pain as her mind could well be
sensible of under circumstances of otherwise strong felicity.  She had
but two friends in the world to add to his list, Lady Russell and Mrs
Smith.  To those, however, he was very well disposed to attach himself.
Lady Russell, in spite of all her former transgressions, he could now
value from his heart.  While he was not obliged to say that he believed
her to have been right in originally dividing them, he was ready to say
almost everything else in her favour, and as for Mrs Smith, she had
claims of various kinds to recommend her quickly and permanently.

Her recent good offices by Anne had been enough in themselves, and
their marriage, instead of depriving her of one friend, secured her
two.  She was their earliest visitor in their settled life; and Captain
Wentworth, by putting her in the way of recovering her husband's
property in the West Indies, by writing for her, acting for her, and
seeing her through all the petty difficulties of the case with the
activity and exertion of a fearless man and a determined friend, fully
requited the services which she had rendered, or ever meant to render,
to his wife.

Mrs Smith's enjoyments were not spoiled by this improvement of income,
with some improvement of health, and the acquisition of such friends to
be often with, for her cheerfulness and mental alacrity did not fail
her; and while these prime supplies of good remained, she might have
bid defiance even to greater accessions of worldly prosperity.  She
might have been absolutely rich and perfectly healthy, and yet be
happy.  Her spring of felicity was in the glow of her spirits, as her
friend Anne's was in the warmth of her heart.  Anne was tenderness
itself, and she had the full worth of it in Captain Wentworth's
affection.  His profession was all that could ever make her friends
wish that tenderness less, the dread of a future war all that could dim
her sunshine.  She gloried in being a sailor's wife, but she must pay
the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if
possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its
national importance.



　　谁会怀疑事情的结局呢？无论哪两个青年人，一旦打定主意要结婚，他们准会坚定不移地去实现这个目标，尽管他们是那样清贫，那样轻率，那样不可能给相互间带来最终的幸福。得出这样的结论可能是不道德的，但我相信事实如此。如果这种人尚能获得成功，那么像温特沃思上校和安妮·埃利奥特这样的人，既有成熟的思想，又懂得自己的权力，还有一笔丰裕的财产，岂能冲不破种种阻力？其实，他们或许可以冲破比他们遇到的大得多的阻力，因为除了受到一些冷落怠慢之外，他们没有什么好苦恼的。沃尔特爵士并未表示反对，伊丽莎白只不过看上去有些漠不关心。温特沃思上校具有二万五千镑的财产，赫赫功绩又把他推上了很高的职位，他不再是个无名小卒。现在，人们认为他完全有资格向一位愚昧无知、挥霍无度的准男爵的女儿求婚，这位准男爵既缺乏准则，又缺乏理智，无法保持上帝赐予他的地位。她的女儿本该分享一万镑的财产，可是目前只能给她其中的一小部分。
　　的确，沃尔特爵士虽说并不喜欢安妮，其虚荣心也没有得到满足，因而眼下不会为之真心高兴，但他决不认为这门亲事与安妮不相匹配。相反，当他再多瞧瞧温特沃思上校，趁白天反复打量，仔细端详，不禁对他的相貌大为惊羡，觉得他仪表堂堂，不会有损于安妮的高贵地位。所有这一切，再加上他那动听的名字，最后促使沃尔特爵士欣然拿起笔来，在那卷光荣簿上加上了这桩喜事。
　　在那些有对立情绪的人们当中，唯一令人担忧的是拉塞尔夫人。安妮知道，拉塞尔夫人认清了埃利奥特先生的本质，终于抛弃了他，一定会感到有些痛苦。她要经过一番努力，才能真正了解和公平对待温特沃思上校。不过，这正是拉塞尔夫人现在要做的事情。她必须认识到：她把他们两个人都看错了，受到两人外表的蒙骗，因为温特沃思上校的风度不中她的意，便马上怀疑他是个性情鲁莽而危险的人；因为埃利奥特先生的举止稳妥得体，温文尔雅，正合她的心意，她便立即断定那是他教养有素、富有见识的必然结果。拉塞尔夫人只得承认自己完全错了，准备树立新的观念，新的希望。
　　有些人感觉敏锐，善于看人，总之，一种天生的洞察力，别人再有经验也是比不上的。在这方面，拉塞尔夫人就是没有她的年轻朋友富有见识。不过，她是个十分贤惠的女人，如果说她的第二目标是要明智一些，能够明断是非，那么她的第一目标便是看着安妮获得幸福。她爱安妮胜过爱她自己的才智。当最初的尴尬消释之后，她觉得对于那个给她的教女带来幸福的人，并不难以像慈母般地加以疼爱。
　　一家人里，玛丽大概对这件事最感到满意啦。有个姐姐要出嫁，这是件光彩事儿。她得意地认为：多亏她让安妮在秋天去陪伴她，为促成这门亲事立下了汗马功劳。因为她自己的姐姐比她丈夫的妹妹要好，她十分乐意温特沃思上校比本威克中校和查尔斯·海特都有钱些。当他们重新接触的时候，眼见着安妮恢复了优先权，成为一辆十分漂亮的四轮小马车的女主人，她心里不禁有些隐隐作痛。不过，展望未来，她有个莫大的慰藉。安妮将来没有厄泼克劳斯大宅，没有地产，做不了一家之主。只要能使温特沃思上校当不成准男爵，她就不愿意和安妮调个位置。
　　若是那位大姐也能如此满意自己的境况，那就好了，因为她的境况不大可能发生变化。过了不久，她伤心地看着埃利奥特先生离开了。她本来捕风捉影地对他抱着希望，现在希望破灭了，而且此后再也没有遇见一个条件合适的人，来唤起她的这种希望。
　　且说埃利奥特先生听到他堂妹安妮订婚的消息，不禁大为震惊。这样一来，他那寻求家庭幸福的美妙计划破产了，他那企图利用做女婿之便守在旁边不让沃尔特爵士续娶的美梦也破灭了。不过，他虽说受到挫败，感到失望，但他仍然有办法谋求自己的利益与享受。他很快便离开了巴思。过了不久，克莱夫人也离开了巴思，随即人们便听说，她在伦敦做了他的姘头。明摆着，埃利奥特先生一直在耍弄两面手法，起码下定决心，不能让一个狡黠的女人毁了他的继承权。
　　克莱夫人的感情战胜了她的利欲，她本来可以继续追求沃尔特爵士，可是为了那个年轻人，她宁可放弃这场追求。她不仅富有感情，而且卓有才能。他们两人究竟谁的狡黠会取得最后的胜利，埃利奥特先生在阻止她成为沃尔特爵土夫人以后，他自己是否会被连哄带骗地最终娶她做威廉爵士夫人，这在现在还是个谜。
　　毋庸置疑，沃尔特爵士和伊丽莎白在失去自己的伙伴，发现受了欺骗之后，感到又惊又羞。当然，他们可以到显贵的表亲那里寻求安慰，但是他们总会感到，光是奉承和追随别人，而受不到别人的奉承和追随，那只有一半的乐趣。
　　早在拉塞尔夫人刚刚打算像她理所应当的那样喜爱温特沃思上校的时候，安妮就感到大为满意。她没有什么其他因素妨碍她未来的幸福，唯独觉得自己没有一个聪明人所能器重的亲戚供丈夫来往。他们在财产上的悬殊倒无所谓，没有使她感到一时一刻的悔恨。她在他哥哥、姐姐家里被尊为上宾，受到热情的欢迎，可是她却没有个家庭可以妥善地接待他，恰当地评价他，无法给他提供个体面、融洽、和善的去处，这就使她在本来极为幸福的情况下感到心里十分痛苦。她总共只能给他增添两个朋友，拉塞尔夫人和史密斯夫人。不过，他还是很愿意同她们结交的。拉塞尔夫人尽管以前有过这样那样的过失，他现在却能真心实意地敬重她。他虽然还用不着说什么他认为她当初把他们拆开是对的，但是别的恭维话他几乎什么都肯说。至于史密斯夫人，由于种种理由，很快便受到他的始终不渝的尊崇。
　　史密斯夫人最近帮了安妮的大忙，安妮同温特沃思上校结婚后，她非但没有失去一位朋友，反而获得了两位朋友。她等他们定居下来以后，头一个去拜访他们。而温特沃思上校则帮助她有机会重新获得她丈夫在西印度群岛的那笔财产，替她写状子，做她的代理人，真是个无畏的男子汉和坚定的朋友。经过他的努力斡旋，帮助史密斯夫人克服了案情中的种种细小困难，充分报答了她给予他妻子的帮助，或者打算给予她的帮助。
　　史密斯夫人的乐趣没有因为提高了收入，增进了健康，得到了经常来往的朋友而有所损害，因为她并未改变她那快乐爽朗的性格。只要这些主要优点还继续存在，她甚至可以藐视更多的荣华富贵。她即使家财万贯，身体安康，也还会高高兴兴的。她幸福的源泉在于兴致勃勃，正像她朋友安妮的幸福源泉在于热情洋溢。安妮温情脉脉，完全赢得了温特沃思上校的一片钟情。他的职业是安妮的朋友们所唯一担忧的，唯恐将来打起仗来会给她的欢乐投上阴影，因而希望她少几分温柔。她为做一个水兵的妻子而感到自豪；不过，隶属于这样的职业，她又必须付出一定的代价，战事一起，便要担惊受怕。其实，那些人如果办得到的话，他们在家庭方面的美德要比为国效忠来得更卓著。


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