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！
was； also proved again by the gentleman’s looks； that he thought
hers very lovely； and by the readiness and propriety of his
apologies； that he was a man of exceedingly good manners。 He
seemed about thirty； and though not handsome； had an agreeable
person。 Anne felt that she should like to know who he was。
They had nearly done breakfast； when the sound of a carriage；
（almost the first they had heard since entering Lyme） drew half
the party to the window。 “It was a gentleman’s carriage—a
curricle—but only coming round from the stable…yard to the front
door。—Somebody must be going away。—It was driven by a
servant in mourning。”
The word curricle made Charles Musgrove jump up that he
might compare it with his own； the servant in mourning roused
Anne’s curiosity； and the whole six were collected to look； by the
time the owner of the curricle was to be seen issuing from the door
amidst the bows and civilities of the household； and taking his
seat； to drive off。
“Ah！” cried Captain Wentworth； instantly； and with half a
glance at Anne； “it is the very man we passed。”
The Miss Musgroves agreed to it； and having all kindly watched
him as far up the hill as they could； they returned to the breakfast
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 122…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 122
table。 The waiter came into the room soon afterwards。
“Pray；” said Captain Wentworth； immediately； “can you tell us
the name of the gentleman who is just gone away？”
“Yes； Sir； a Mr。 Elliot； a gentleman of large fortune；—came in
last night from Sidmouth；—dare say you heard the carriage； sir；
while you were at dinner； and going on now for Crewkherne； in his
way to Bath and London。”
“Elliot！” Many had looked on each other； and many had
repeated the name； before all this had been got through； even by
the smart rapidity of a waiter。
“Bless me！” cried Mary； “it must be our cousin；—it must be our
Mr。 Elliot； it must； indeed！—Charles； Anne； must not it？ In
mourning； you see； just as our Mr。 Elliot must be。 How very
extraordinary！ In the very same inn with us！ Anne； must not it be
our Mr。 Elliot； my father’s next heir？ Pray sir；” （turning to the
waiter）； “did not you hear； did not his servant say whether he
belonged to the Kellynch family？”
“No； ma’am； he did not mention no particular family； but he
said his master was a very rich gentleman； and would be a
baronight some day。”
“There！ you see！” cried Mary in an ecstasy； “just as I said！ Heir
to Sir Walter Elliot！—I was sure that would come out； if it was so。
Depend upon it； that is a circumstance which his servants take
care to publish； wherever he goes。 But； Anne； only conceive how
extraordinary！ I wish I had looked at him more。 I wish we had
been aware in time； who it was； that he might have been
introduced to us。 What a pity that we should not have been
introduced to each other！—Do you think he had the Elliot
countenance？ I hardly looked at him； I was looking at the horses；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 123…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 123
but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance； I wonder
the arms did not strike me！ Oh！—the great…coat was hanging over
the panel； and hid the arms； so it did； otherwise； I am sure； I
should have observed them； and the livery too； if the servant had
not been in mourning； one should have known him by the livery。”
“Putting all these very extraordinary circumstances together；”
said Captain Wentworth； “we must consider it to be the
arrangement of Providence； that you should not be introduced to
your cousin。”
When she could command Mary’s attention； Anne quietly tried
to convince her that their father and Mr。 Elliot had not； for many
years； been on such terms as to make the power of attempting an
introduction at all desirable。
At the same time； however； it was a secret gratification to
herself to have seen her cousin； and to know that the future owner
of Kellynch was undoubtedly a gentleman； and had an air of good
sense。 She would not； upon any account； mention her having met
with him the second time； luckily Mary did not much attend to
their having passed close by him in their earlier walk； but she
would have felt quite ill…used by Anne’s having actually run
against him in the passage； and received his very polite excuses；
while she had never been near him at all； no； that cousinly little
interview must remain a perfect secret。
“Of course；” said Mary； “you will mention our seeing Mr。 Elliot；
the next time you write to Bath。 I think my father certainly ought
to hear of it； do mention all about him。”
Anne avoided a direct reply； but it was just the circumstance
which she considered as not merely unnecessary to be
communicated； but as what ought to be suppressed。 The offence
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 124…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 124
which had been given her father； many years back； she knew；
Elizabeth’s particular share in it she suspected； and that Mr。
Elliot’s idea always produced irritation in both was beyond a
doubt。 Mary never wrote to Bath herself； all the toil of keeping up
a slow and unsatisfactory correspondence with Elizabeth fell on
Anne。
Breakfast had not been long over； when they were joined by
Captain and Mrs。 Harville and Captain Benwick； with whom they
had appointed to take their last walk about Lyme。 They ought to
be setting off for Uppercross by one； and in the meanwhile were to
be all together； and out of doors as long as they could。
Anne found Captain Benwick getting near her； as soon as they
were