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！
supplied； and want for nothing。—No hurry for a signal at all。—
Well； Miss Elliot；” （lowering his voice） “as I was saying we shall
never agree； I suppose； upon this point。 No man and woman
would； probably。 But let me observe that all histories are against
you—all stories； prose and verse。 If I had such a memory as
Benwick； I could bring you fifty quotations in a moment on my
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 266…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 266
side the argument； and I do not think I ever opened a book in my
life which had not something to say upon woman’s inconstancy。
Songs and proverbs； all talk of woman’s fickleness。 But perhaps
you will say； these were all written by men。”
“Perhaps I shall。—Yes； yes； if you please； no reference to
examples in books。 Men have had every advantage of us in telling
their own story。 Education has been theirs in so much higher a
degree； the pen has been in their hands。 I will not allow books to
prove any thing。”
“But how shall we prove any thing？”
“We never shall。 We never can expect to prove any thing upon
such a point。 It is a difference of opinion which does not admit of
proof。 We each begin； probably； with a little bias towards our own
sex； and upon that bias build every circumstance in favour of it
which has occurred within our own circle； many of which
circumstances （perhaps those very cases which strike us the most）
may be precisely such as cannot be brought forward without
betraying a confidence； or in some respect saying what should not
be said。”
“Ah！” cried Captain Harville； in a tone of strong feeling； “if I
could but make you comprehend what a man suffers when he
takes a last look at his wife and children； and watches the boat that
he has sent them off in； as long as it is in sight； and then turns
away and says； ‘God knows whether we ever meet again！’ And
then； if I could convey to you the glow of his soul when he does see
them again； when； coming back after a twelvemonth’s absence；
perhaps； and obliged to put into another port； he calculates how
soon it be possible to get them there； pretending to deceive
himself； and saying； ‘They cannot be here till such a day；’ but all
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 267…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 267
the while hoping for them twelve hours sooner； and seeing them
arrive at last； as if Heaven had given them wings； by many hours
sooner still！ If I could explain to you all this； and all that a man can
bear and do； and glories to do； for the sake of these treasures of his
existence！ I speak； you know； only of such men as have hearts！”
pressing his own with emotion。
“Oh！” cried Anne eagerly； “I hope I do justice to all that is felt
by you； and by those who resemble you。 God forbid that I should
undervalue the warm and faithful feelings of any of my fellow…
creatures！ I should deserve utter contempt if I dared to suppose
that true attachment and constancy were known only by woman。
No； I believe you capable of everything great and good in your
married lives。 I believe you equal to every important exertion； and
to every domestic forbearance； so long as—if I may be allowed the
expression； so long as you have an object。 I mean while the woman
you love lives； and lives for you。 All the privilege I claim for my
own sex （it is not a very enviable one； you need not covet it） is that
of loving longest； when existence or when hope is gone。”
She could not immediately have uttered another sentence； her
heart was too full； her breath too much oppressed。
“You are a good soul；” cried Captain Harville； putting his hand
on her arm； quite affectionately。 “There is no quarreling with
you。—And when I think of Benwick； my tongue is tied。”
Their attention was called towards the others。—Mrs。 Croft was
taking leave。
“Here； Frederick； you and I part company； I believe；” said she。
“I am going home； and you have an engagement with your
friend。—To…night we may have the pleasure of all meeting again at
your party；” （turning to Anne）。 “We had your sister’s card
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 268…
Jane Austen： Persuasion 268
yesterday； and I understood Frederick had a card too； though I did
not see it—and you are disengaged； Frederick； are you not； as well
as ourselves？”
Captain Wentworth was folding up a letter in great haste； and
either could not or would not answer fully。
“Yes；” said he； “very true； here we separate； but Harville and I
shall soon be after you； that is； Harville； if you are ready； I am in
half a minute。 I know you will not be sorry to be off。 I shall be at
your service in half a minute。”
Mrs。 Croft left them； and Captain Wentworth； having sealed his
letter with great rapidity； was indeed ready； and had even a
hurried； agitated air； which shewed impatience to be gone。 Anne
knew not how to understand it。 She had the kindest “Good
morning； God bless you！” from Captain Harville； but from him not
a word； nor a look！ He had passed out of the room without a look！
She had only time； however； to move closer to the table where
he had been writing； when footsteps were heard returning； the
door opened； it was himself。 He begged their pardon； but he had
forgotten his gloves； and instantly crossing the room to the writing
table； he drew out a letter from under the scattered paper； placed
it before Anne with eyes of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a
time； and hastily collecting his gloves； was again out of the room；
almost before Mrs。 Musgrove was aware of his being in it—the
work of an instant！
The revolution which one instant had made in Anne； was
almost beyond expression。 The letter； with a direction hardly
legible； to “Miss A。 E。—；”