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ourselves in our lodgings； and draw in our chairs； and are snug as
if we were at Kellynch； ay； or as we used to be even at North
Yarmouth and Deal。 We do not like our lodgings here the worse； I
can tell you； for putting us in mind of those we first had at North
Yarmouth。 The wind blows through one of the cupboards just in
the same way。”
When they were got a little farther； Anne ventured to press
again for what he had to communicate。 She hoped when clear of
Milsom…street to have her curiosity gratified； but she was still
obliged to wait； for the Admiral had made up his mind not to begin
till they had gained the greater space and quiet of Belmont； and as
she was not really Mrs。 Croft； she must let him have his own way。
As soon as they were fairly ascending Belmont； he began；
“Well； now you shall hear something that will surprise you。 But
first of all； you must tell me the name of the young lady I am going
to talk about。 That young lady； you know； that we have all been so
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concerned for。 The Miss Musgrove； that all this has been
happening to。 Her Christian name—I always forget her Christian
name。”
Anne had been ashamed to appear to comprehend so soon as
she really did； but now she could safely suggest the name of
“Louisa。”
“Ay； ay； Miss Louisa Musgrove； that is the name。 I wish young
ladies had not such a number of fine Christian names。 I should
never be out if they were all Sophys； or something of that sort。
Well； this Miss Louisa； we all thought； you know； was to marry
Frederick。 He was courting her week after week。 The only wonder
was； what they could be waiting for； till the business at Lyme
came； then； indeed； it was clear enough that they must wait till her
brain was set to right。 But even then there was something odd in
their way of going on。 Instead of staying at Lyme； he went off to
Plymouth； and then he went off to see Edward。 When we came
back from Minehead he was gone down to Edward’s； and there he
has been ever since。 We have seen nothing of him since
November。 Even Sophy could not understand it。 But now； the
matter has taken the strangest turn of all； for this young lady； the
same Miss Musgrove； instead of being to marry Frederick； is to
marry James Benwick。 You know James Benwick。”
“A little。 I am a little acquainted with Captain Benwick。”
“Well； she is to marry him。 Nay； most likely they are married
already； for I do not know what they should wait for。”
“I thought Captain Benwick a very pleasing young man；” said
Anne； “and I understand that he bears an excellent character。”
“Oh！ yes； yes； there is not a word to be said against James
Benwick。 He is only a commander； it is true； made last summer；
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and these are bad times for getting on； but he has not another fault
that I know of。 An excellent； good…hearted fellow； I assure you； a
very active； zealous officer too； which is more than you would
think for； perhaps； for that soft sort of manner does not do him
justice。”
“Indeed you are mistaken there； sir； I should never augur want
of spirit from Captain Benwick’s manners。 I thought them
particularly pleasing； and I will answer for it； they would generally
please。”
“Well； well； ladies are the best judges； but James Benwick is
rather too piano for me； and though very likely it is all our
partiality； Sophy and I cannot help thinking Frederick’s manners
better than his。 There is something about Frederick more to our
taste。”
Anne was caught。 She had only meant to oppose the too
common idea of spirit and gentleness being incompatible with
each other； not at all to represent Captain Benwick’s manners as
the very best that could possibly be； and； after a little hesitation；
she was beginning to say； “I was not entering into any comparison
of the two friends；” but the Admiral interrupted her with；
“And the thing is certainly true。 It is not a mere bit of gossip。
We have it from Frederick himself。 His sister had a letter from him
yesterday； in which he tells us of it； and he had just had it in a
letter from Harville； written upon the spot； from Uppercross。 I
fancy they are all at Uppercross。”
This was an opportunity which Anne could not resist； she said；
therefore； “I hope； Admiral； I hope there is nothing in the style of
Captain Wentworth’s letter to make you and Mrs。 Croft
particularly uneasy。 It did seem； last autumn； as if there were an
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attachment between him and Louisa Musgrove； but I hope it may
be understood to have worn out on each side equally； and without
violence。 I hope his letter does not breathe the spirit of an ill…used
man。”
“Not at all； not at all； there is not an oath or a murmur from
beginning to end。”
Anne looked down to hide her smile。
“No； no； Frederick is not a man to whine and complain； he has
too much spirit for that。 If the girl likes another man better； it is
very fit she should have him。”
“Certainly。 But what I mean is； that I hope there is nothing in
Captain Wentworth’s manner of writing to make you suppose he
thinks himself ill…used by his friend； which might appear； you
know； without its being absolutely said。 I should be very sorry that
such a friendship as has subsisted between him and Captain
Benwick should be destroyed； or even wounded； by a
circumstance of this sort。”
“Yes； yes； I understand you。 But there is nothing at all of that
nature in the letter。 He does not give the least fling at B