按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which he received two years before； and Captain Wentworth’s
anxiety to see him had determined him to go immediately to
Lyme。 He had been there for four…and…twenty hours。 His acquittal
was complete； his friendship warmly honoured； a lively interest
excited for his friend； and his description of the fine country about
Lyme so feelingly attended to by the party； that an earnest desire
to see Lyme themselves； and a project for going thither was the
consequence。
The young people were all wild to see Lyme。 Captain
Wentworth talked of going there again himself； it was only
seventeen miles from Uppercross； though November； the weather
was by no means bad； and； in short； Louisa； who was the most
eager of the eager； having formed the resolution to go； and besides
the pleasure of doing as she liked； being now armed with the idea
of merit in maintaining her own way； bore down all the wishes of
her father and mother for putting it off till summer； and to Lyme
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 109…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 109
they were to go—Charles； Mary； Anne； Henrietta； Louisa； and
Captain Wentworth。
The first heedless scheme had been to go in the morning and
return at night； but to this Mr。 Musgrove； for the sake of his
horses； would not consent； and when it came to be rationally
considered； a day in the middle of November would not leave
much time for seeing a new place； after deducting seven hours； as
the nature of the country required； for going and returning。 They
were； consequently； to stay the night there； and not to be expected
back till the next day’s dinner。 This was felt to be a considerable
amendment； and though they all met at the Great House at rather
an early breakfast hour； and set off very punctually； it was so
much past noon before the two carriages； Mr。 Musgrove’s coach
containing the four ladies； and Charles’s curricle； in which he
drove Captain Wentworth； were descending the long hill into
Lyme； and entering upon the still steeper street of the town itself；
that it was very evident they would not have more than time for
looking about them； before the light and warmth of the day were
gone。
After securing accommodations； and ordering a dinner at one
of the inns； the next thing to be done was unquestionably to walk
directly down to the sea。 They were come too late in the year for
any amusement or variety which Lyme； as a public place； might
offer。 The rooms were shut up； the lodgers almost all gone；
scarcely any family but of the residents left—and； as there is
nothing to admire in the buildings themselves； the remarkable
situation of the town； the principal street almost hurrying into the
water； the walk to the Cobb； skirting round the pleasant little bay；
which； in the season； is animated with bathing machines and
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 110…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 110
company； the Cobb itself； its old wonders and new improvements；
with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to the east of the
town； are what the stranger’s eye will seek； and a very strange
stranger it must be； who does not see charms in the immediate
environs of Lyme； to make him wish to know it better。 The scenes
in its neighbourhood； Charmouth； with its high grounds and
extensive sweeps of country； and still more； its sweet； retired bay；
backed by dark cliffs； where fragments of low rock among the
sands； make it the happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide；
for sitting in unwearied contemplation；—the woody varieties of
the cheerful village of Up Lyme； and； above all； Pinny； with its
green chasms between romantic rocks； where the scattered forest
trees and orchards of luxuriant growth； declare that many a
generation must have passed away since the first partial falling of
the cliff prepared the ground for such a state； where a scene so
wonderful and so lovely is exhibited； as may more than equal any
of the resembling scenes of the far…famed Isle of Wight： these
places must be visited； and visited again； to make the worth of
Lyme understood。
The party from Uppercross passing down by the now deserted
and melancholy looking rooms； and still descending； soon found
themselves on the sea shore； and lingering only； as all must linger
and gaze on a first return to the sea； who ever deserved to look on
it at all； proceeded towards the Cobb； equally their object in itself
and on Captain Wentworth’s account； for in a small house； near
the foot of an old pier of unknown date； were the Harvilles settled。
Captain Wentworth turned in to call on his friend； the others
walked on； and he was to join them on the Cobb。
They were by no means tired of wondering and admiring； and
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 111…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 111
not even Louisa seemed to feel that they had parted with Captain
Wentworth long； when they saw him coming after them； with
three companions； all well known already； by description； to be
Captain and Mrs。 Harville； and a Captain Benwick； who was
staying with them。
Captain Benwick had some time ago been first lieutenant of the
Laconia； and the account which Captain Wentworth had given of
him； on his return from Lyme before； his warm praise of him as an
excellent young man and an officer； whom he had always valued
highly； which must have stamped him well in the esteem of every
listener； had been followed by a little history of his private life；
which rendered him perfectly interesting in the eyes of all the
ladies。 He had been engaged to Captain Harville’s sister； and was
now mourning her loss。 They had been a yea