第 24 节
作者:绝对601      更新:2022-04-16 12:12      字数:9269
  man;     as   she   loves   the  Admiral;     I  would     always    be   with   him;
  nothing should ever separate us; and I would rather be overturned
  by him; than driven safely by anybody else。”
  It was spoken with enthusiasm。
  “Had you?” cried he; catching the same tone; “I   honour  you!”
  And there was silence between them for a little while。
  Anne   could   not   immediately   fall   into   a   quotation   again。   The
  sweet   scenes   of   autumn   were   for   a   while   put   by—unless   some
  tender sonnet; fraught with the apt analogy of the declining year;
  with declining happiness; and the images of youth and hope; and
  spring; all gone together; blessed her memory。 She roused herself
  to say; as they struck by order into another path; “Is not this one of
  the   ways   to   Winthrop?”   But   nobody   heard;   or;   at   least;   nobody
  answered her。
  Winthrop;       however;      or   its  environs—for        young     men     are;
  sometimes   to   be   met   with;   strolling   about   near   home;   was   their
  destination; and after another half mile of gradual ascent through
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  large enclosures; where the ploughs at work; and the fresh made
  path     spoke    the   farmer     counteracting      the   sweets     of  poetical
  despondence; and meaning to have spring again; they gained the
  summit   of   the   most   considerable   hill;   which   parted   Uppercross
  and Winthrop; and soon commanded a full view of the latter; at the
  foot of the hill on the other side。
  Winthrop;   without   beauty   and   without   dignity;   was   stretched
  before   them;   an   indifferent  house;   standing  low; and   hemmed   in
  by the barns and buildings of a farm…yard。
  Mary exclaimed; “Bless me! here is Winthrop—I declare I had
  no    idea!—well;      now    I  think   we   had    better   turn   back;    I  am
  excessively tired。”
  Henrietta;     conscious      and   ashamed;       and   seeing    no    cousin
  Charles walking along any path; or leaning against any gate; was
  ready to do as Mary wished; but “No!” said Charles Musgrove; and
  “No; no!” cried Louisa more eagerly;   and   taking  her  sister  aside;
  seemed to be arguing the matter warmly。
  Charles;   in   the   meanwhile;   was   very   decidedly   declaring   his
  resolution of calling on his aunt; now that he was so near; and very
  evidently;   though   more   fearfully;   trying   to   induce   his   wife   to   go
  too。 But this was one of the points on which the lady shewed her
  strength;     and   when    he   recommended        the   advantage     of  resting
  herself a quarter of an hour at Winthrop; as she felt so tired; she
  resolutely answered; “Oh! no; indeed!—walking up that hill again
  would     do   her   more   harm     than   any   sitting  down     could   do   her
  good;”—and; in short; her look and manner declared; that go she
  would not。
  After     a   little   succession     of   these     sort   of   debates     and
  consultations; it was settled between   Charles and  his   two  sisters;
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  that he and Henrietta should just run down for a few minutes; to
  see their aunt and cousins; while   the   rest  of  the   party  waited   for
  them at the top of the hill。 Louisa seemed the principal arranger of
  the   plan;   and;  as she   went  a  little   way   with   them;   down   the   hill;
  still   talking   to   Henrietta;   Mary   took     the  opportunity   of   looking
  scornfully around her; and saying to Captain Wentworth;
  “It   is   very   unpleasant;   having   such   connexions!   But;   I   assure
  you; I have never been in the house above twice in my life。”
  She    received     no   other    answer;     than   an   artificial;   assenting
  smile;    followed     by   a  contemptuous       glance;    as  he   turned     away;
  which Anne perfectly knew the meaning of。
  The brow of the hill; where they remained; was a cheerful spot:
  Louisa returned; and Mary; finding a comfortable seat for herself
  on the step of a stile; was very well satisfied so long as the others
  all   stood   about   her;   but   when   Louisa   drew   Captain   Wentworth
  away; to try for a gleaning of nuts in an adjoining hedge…row; and
  they were gone by degrees quite out of sight and sound; Mary was
  happy   no   longer;      she   quarrelled   with   her   own      seat;—was      sure
  Louisa   had      got   a   much   better   somewhere;—and   nothing   could
  prevent      her   from    going   to   look   for  a  better    also。  She    turned
  through   the   same   gate;—but   could   not   see   them。   Anne   found   a
  nice seat  for   her;   on   a   dry   sunny   bank;   under   the   hedge…row;   in
  which she had no doubt of their still being—in some spot or other。
  Mary  sat  down   for  a moment;   but   it   would   not   do;   she   was   sure
  Louisa had found a better seat somewhere else; and she would go
  on till she overtook her。
  Anne;   really   tired   herself;   was   glad   to   sit   down;   and   she   very
  soon     heard    Captain     Wentworth       and    Louisa    in   the  hedge…row;
  behind her; as if making their way back along the rough; wild sort
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  of   channel;   down   the   centre。   They   were   speaking   as   they   drew
  near。 Louisa’s voice was the first distinguished。 She seemed to be
  in the middle of some eager speech。 What Anne first heard was;
  “And   so;   I   made   her   go。   I   could   not   bear   that   she   should   be
  frightened   from   the   visit   by   such   nonsense。   What!—would   I   be
  turned back from doing a thing that I had determined to do; and
  that   I   knew   to   be   right;   by   the   airs   and   interference   of   such   a
  person;—or of any person I may say? No;—I have no idea of being
  so easily persuaded。 When I have made up my mind; I have made
  it; and Henrietta seemed entirely to have made up hers to call at
  Winthrop   to…day;—and   yet;   she   was   as   near   giving   it   up;   out   of
  nonsensical complaisance!”
  “She would have turned back then; but for you?”
  “She would indeed。 I am almost ashamed to say it。”
  “Happy for her; to have such a mind as   yours   at  hand!—After
  the    hints   you   gave    just  now;    which    did   but   confirm     my   own
  observations; the last time I was in company with him; I need not
  affect   to   have   no   comprehension   of   what   is   going   on。   I   see   that
  more     than    a  mere     dutiful   morning…visit      to  your    aunt    was   in
  question;—and   woe   betide   him;   and   her   too;   when   it   comes   to
  things     of  consequence;      when     they   are  placed    in  circumstances
  requiring fortitude and strength of mind; if she have not resolution
  enough   to   resist   idle   interference   in   such   a   trifle   as   this。  Your
  sister is an amiable creature; but yours is the character of decision
  and firmness; I see。 If you value her conduct or happiness; infuse
  as much of your own spirit into her as you can。 But this; no doubt;
  you have been always doing。 It is the worst evil of too yielding and
  indecisive a character; that no influence over it can be depended
  on。—You        are  never    sure    of  a  good    impression     being    durable。
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  Everybody may sway it。 Let those who would be happy be firm。—
  Here is a nut;” said he; catching one down from an upper bough。
  “To     exemplify;—a       beautiful     glossy   nut;    which;    blessed    with
  original   strength;   has   outlived   all   the   storms   of   autumn。    Not   a
  puncture;   not   a   weak   spot   anywhere。—This   nut;”   he   continued;
  with    playful   solemnity;—“while         so  many     of  his  brethren     have
  fallen and been trodden under foot; is still in possession of all the
  happiness   that   a   hazel   nut   can   be   supposed   capable   of。”   Then
  returning to his former earnest tone—“My first wish for all whom I
  am interested in; is that they should be firm。 If Louisa   Musgrove
  would   be   beautifu