第 33 节
作者:绝对601      更新:2022-04-16 12:12      字数:9303
  she was valued only as she could be useful to Louisa。
  She    endeavoured        to  be   composed;       and   to  be   just。  Without
  emulating the feelings of an Emma towards her Henry; she would
  have attended on Louisa with a zeal above the common claims of
  regard; for his sake; and she hoped he would not long be so unjust
  as to suppose she would shrink unnecessarily from the office of a
  friend。
  In the meanwhile she was in the carriage。 He had handed them
  both   in;   and   placed   himself   between   them;   and   in   this   manner;
  under   these   circumstances;   full   of   astonishment   and   emotion   to
  Anne;   she   quitted   Lyme。   How   the   long   stage   would   pass;   how   it
  was     to   affect   their   manners;       what    was    to   be   their   sort   of
  intercourse;       she   could    not    foresee。    It  was    all  quite    natural;
  however。   He   was   devoted   to   Henrietta;   always   turning   towards
  her; and when he spoke at all; always with the view of supporting
  her hopes and raising her spirits。 In general; his voice and manner
  were   studiously   calm。   To   spare   Henrietta   from   agitation   seemed
  the   governing   principle。   Once   only;   when   she   had   been   grieving
  over     the   last   ill…judged;    ill…fated   walk     to  the    Cobb;    bitterly
  lamenting   that   it   ever   had   been   thought   of;   he   burst   forth;   as   if
  wholly overcome—
  “Don’t talk of it; don’t talk of it;” he cried。 “Oh God! that I had
  not given way to her at the fatal moment! Had I done as I ought!
  But so eager and so resolute! Dear; sweet Louisa!”
  Anne     wondered       whether      it  ever   occurred      to  him    now;    to
  question      the   justness     of  his   own    previous     opinion     as  to   the
  universal      felicity  and    advantage      of  firmness     of  character;     and
  whether it might not strike him that; like all other qualities of the
  mind;   it   should   have   its   proportions   and   limits。   She   thought   it
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  could scarcely escape him to feel that a persuadable temper might
  sometimes   be as   much   in   favour   of   happiness   as   a   very   resolute
  character。
  They   got   on   fast。   Anne   was   astonished   to   recognise   the   same
  hills and the same objects so soon。 Their actual speed; heightened
  by some dread of the conclusion; made the road appear but half as
  long   as   on   the   day   before。   It   was   growing   quite   dusk;   however;
  before they were  in   the  neighbourhood   of  Uppercross;   and  there
  had     been    total  silence    among     them    for   some    time;   Henrietta
  leaning back in the corner; with a shawl over her face; giving the
  hope of her having cried herself to sleep; when; as they were going
  up   their   last   hill;  Anne   found    herself   all   at   once  addressed   by
  Captain Wentworth。 In a low; cautious voice; he said;
  “I   have   been   considering   what   we   had   best   do。   She   must  not
  appear      at  first。  She   could    not   stand   it。  I  have   been    thinking
  whether you had not better remain in the carriage with her; while
  I go in and break it to Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove。 Do you think this is
  a good plan?”
  She     did:   he    was    satisfied;    and    said   no    more。     But    the
  remembrance          of  the  appeal    remained      a  pleasure     to  her—as     a
  proof   of   friendship;   and   of   deference   for   her   judgment;   a   great
  pleasure; and when it became a sort of parting proof; its value did
  not lessen。
  When   the   distressing   communication   at  Uppercross   was   over;
  and he had seen the father and mother quite as composed as could
  be hoped; and the daughter all the better for being with them; he
  announced        his  intention     of  returning     in  the   same    carriage    to
  Lyme; and when the horses were baited; he was off。
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  VOLUME II
  CHAPTER I
  he     remainder         of    Anne’s      time      at    Uppercross;
  comprehending   only   two   days;   was   spent   entirely   at   the
  T
  Mansion House; and she had   the   satisfaction   of  knowing
  herself extremely useful there; both as an immediate   companion;
  and as assisting in all those arrangements for the future; which; in
  Mr。   and   Mrs。   Musgrove’s   distressed   state   of   spirits;   would   have
  been difficulties。
  They had an early account from Lyme the next morning。 Louisa
  was     much     the   same。    No    symptoms       worse    than    before    had
  appeared。   Charles   came   a   few   hours   afterwards;   to   bring   a   later
  and more particular account。 He was tolerably cheerful。 A speedy
  cure   must  not be   hoped; but  everything   was   going   on   as   well   as
  the   nature   of  the   case   admitted。   In   speaking   of   the   Harvilles;   he
  seemed       unable    to   satisfy   his   own    sense    of   their   kindness;
  especially of Mrs。 Harville’s  exertions as a   nurse。  “She   really  left
  nothing  for  Mary  to  do。   He   and   Mary   had   been   persuaded   to   go
  early  to  their  inn  last  night。   Mary  had   been   hysterical   again   this
  morning。   When   he   came   away;   she   was   going   to   walk   out   with
  Captain Benwick; which; he hoped; would do her good。 He almost
  wished she had been prevailed on   to  come   home  the  day  before;
  but  the   truth   was;   that   Mrs。   Harville   left   nothing   for   anybody   to
  do。”
  Charles   was   to   return   to   Lyme   the   same   afternoon;   and      his
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  father had at first half a mind to go with him; but the ladies could
  not   consent。     It   would   be  going   only   to   multiply   trouble     to   the
  others; and increase his own distress; and a much better  scheme
  followed      and    was    acted    upon。    A   chaise     was   sent    for   from
  Crewkherne; and Charles conveyed back a far more useful person
  in the old nursery…maid of the family; one who having brought up
  all   the   children;   and   seen   the   very   last;   the   lingering   and   long…
  petted   Master   Harry;   sent   to   school   after   his   brothers;   was   now
  living in her deserted nursery to mend stockings and dress all the
  blains and bruises she could get near her; and who; consequently;
  was   only   too   happy   in   being   allowed   to   go   and   help   nurse   dear
  Miss Louisa。 Vague wishes of getting Sarah thither; had occurred
  before     to  Mrs。   Musgrove       and   Henrietta;     but   without     Anne;    it
  would   hardly   have       been   resolved     on;   and  found   practicable   so
  soon。
  They were indebted; the next day; to Charles Hayter; for all the
  minute   knowledge   of   Louisa;   which  it   was   so   essential   to   obtain
  every  twenty…four   hours。   He   made it  his business  to  go  to  Lyme;
  and his account was still encouraging。 The intervals of sense and
  consciousness   were   believed  to  be   stronger。   Every   report   agreed
  in Captain Wentworth’s appearing fixed in Lyme。
  Anne was to leave them on the morrow; an event which they all
  dreaded。 “What should they do without her? They were wretched
  comforters   for   one   another。”   And   so   much   was   said   in   this   way;
  that   Anne   thought   she   could   not   do   better   than   impart   among
  them      the   general     inclination     to   which     she   was    privy;    and
  persuaded them all to go to Lyme at once。 She had little difficulty;
  it  was    soon   determined       that   they   would    go;  go   to…morrow;      fix
  themselves at the inn; or get into lodgings; as it suited; and there
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  remain till dear Louisa could be moved。 They  must  be  taking  off
  some   trouble   from   the   good   people   she   was   with;   they   might   at
  least relieve Mrs。 Harville from the care of her own children; and