Speaker 1: Chapter nineteen of Persuasion. This is a LibriVox recording. All
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Speaker 1: Elizabeth Klett. Persuasion by Jane Austen, chapter nineteen. While Admiral
Speaker 1: Croft was taking this walk with Anne and expressing his
Speaker 1: wish of getting Captain Wentworth to bath, Captain Wentworth was
Speaker 1: already on his way thither before Missus Croft had written.
Speaker 1: He was arrived, and the very next time Anne walked
Speaker 1: out she saw him. Mister Elliot was attending his two
Speaker 1: cousins and missus Clay. They were in Milsom Street. It
Speaker 1: began to rain, not much, but enough to make shelter
Speaker 1: desirable for women, and quite enough to make it very
Speaker 1: desirable for miss Elliot to have the advantage of being
Speaker 1: conveyed home in Lady Dalrymple's carriage, which was seen waiting
Speaker 1: at a little distance. She. Anne and Missus Clay therefore
Speaker 1: turned into Mollin's, while mister Elliot stepped to Lady Dalrymple
Speaker 1: to request her assistance. He soon joined them again, successful,
Speaker 1: of course, Lady Dalrymple would be most happy to take
Speaker 1: them home, and would call for them in a few minutes.
Speaker 1: Her ladyship's carriage was a barouche and did not hold
Speaker 1: more than four with any comfort. Miss Carteret was with
Speaker 1: her mother. Consequently, it was not reasonable to expect accommodation
Speaker 1: for all the three Camden Place ladies. There could be
Speaker 1: no doubt as to Miss Eliot, whoever suffered in convenience,
Speaker 1: she must suffer none. But it occupied a little time
Speaker 1: to settle the point of civility between the other two.
Speaker 1: The rain was a mere trifle, and Anne was most
Speaker 1: sincere in preferring a walk with mister Elliot. But the
Speaker 1: rain was also a mere trifle to missus Clay. She
Speaker 1: would hardly allow it even to drop at all, And
Speaker 1: her boots were so thick, much thicker than miss Anne's,
Speaker 1: And in short, her civility rendered her quite as anxious
Speaker 1: to be left to walk with mister Elliot as Anne
Speaker 1: could be. And it was discussed between them with a generosity,
Speaker 1: so polite and so determined that the others were obliged
Speaker 1: to settle it for them, Miss Eliot maintaining that missus
Speaker 1: Clay had a little cold already, and mister Elliot, deciding
Speaker 1: on appeal that his cousin Ann's boots were rather the thickest.
Speaker 1: It was fixed accordingly that missus Clay should be of
Speaker 1: the party in the carriage, and they had just reached
Speaker 1: this point when Anne, as she sat near the window,
Speaker 1: descried most decidedly and distinctly Captain Wentworth walking down the street.
Speaker 1: Her start was perceptible only to herself, but she instantly
Speaker 1: felt that she was the greatest simpleton in the world,
Speaker 1: the most unaccountable and absurd. For a few minutes she
Speaker 1: saw nothing before her. It was all confusion. She was lost,
Speaker 1: and when she had scolded back her senses, she found
Speaker 1: the others still waiting for the carriage, and mister Elliot,
Speaker 1: always obliging, just setting off for Union Street on a
Speaker 1: commission of missus Clay's. She now felt a great inclination
Speaker 1: to go to the outer door. She wanted to see
Speaker 1: if it rained. Why was she to suspect herself of
Speaker 1: another motive? Captain Wentworth must be out of sight. She
Speaker 1: left her seat. She would go. One half of her
Speaker 1: should not be always so much wiser than the other half,
Speaker 1: or always suspecting the other of being worse than it was,
Speaker 1: she would see if it rained. She was sent back, however,
Speaker 1: in a moment by the entrance of Captain Wentworth himself
Speaker 1: among a party of gentlemen and ladies, evidently his acquaintance,
Speaker 1: and whom he must have joined a little below Milsome Street.
Speaker 1: He was more obviously struck and confused by the sight
Speaker 1: of her than she had ever observed before. He looked
Speaker 1: quite red. For the first time since their renewed acquaintance.
Speaker 1: She felt that she was betraying the least sensibility of
Speaker 1: the two. She had the advantage of him in the
Speaker 1: preparation of the last few moments. All the overpowering, blinding,
Speaker 1: bewildering first effects of strong surprise were over with her. Still, however,
Speaker 1: she had enough to feel it was agitation, pain, pleasure,
Speaker 1: a something between delight and misery. He spoke to her
Speaker 1: and then turned away. The character of his manner was embarrassment.
Speaker 1: She could not have called it either cold or friendly,
Speaker 1: or anything so certainly as embarrassed. After a short interval, however,
Speaker 1: he came towards her and spoke again. Mutual inquiries on
Speaker 1: common subjects passed, neither of them probably much the wiser
Speaker 1: for what they heard, and Anne, continuing fully sensible of
Speaker 1: his being less at ease than formerly they had by
Speaker 1: dint of being so very much together got to speak
Speaker 1: to each other with a considerable portion of apparent indifference
Speaker 1: and calmness. But he could not do it now. Time
Speaker 1: had changed him, or Louisa had changed him. There was
Speaker 1: consciousness of some sort or another. He looked very well,
Speaker 1: not as if he had been suffering in health or spirits,
Speaker 1: and he talked of Uppercross, of the musgroves, nay even
Speaker 1: of Louisa, and had even a momentary look of his
Speaker 1: own arch significance as he named her. But yet it
Speaker 1: was Captain Wentworth, not comfortable, not easy, not able to
Speaker 1: feign that he was. It did not surprise, but it
Speaker 1: grieved Anne to observe that Elizabeth would not know him.
Speaker 1: She saw that he saw Elizabeth, that Elizabeth saw him,
Speaker 1: that there was complete internal recognition on each side. She
Speaker 1: was convinced that he was ready to be acknowledged as
Speaker 1: an acquaintance, expecting it, and she had the pain of
Speaker 1: seeing her sister turn away with unalterable coldness. Lady Dalrymple's carriage,
Speaker 1: for which Miss Eliot was growing very impatient, now drew up.
Speaker 1: The servant came in to announce it. It was beginning
Speaker 1: to rain again, and altogether there was a delay, and
Speaker 1: a bustle and a talking, which must make all the
Speaker 1: little crowd in the shop understand that Lady Dalrymple was
Speaker 1: calling to convey Miss Eliot. At last, Miss Eliot and
Speaker 1: her friend, unattended but by the servant, for there was
Speaker 1: no cousin returned, were walking off, and Captain Wentworth watching them,
Speaker 1: turned again to Anne, and by manner rather than words,
Speaker 1: was offering his services to her. I am much obliged
Speaker 1: to you, was her answer. But I am not going
Speaker 1: with them. The cage would not accommodate so many I walk.
Speaker 1: I prefer walking. But it rains, oh, very little, nothing
Speaker 1: that I regard. After a moment's pause, he said, though
Speaker 1: I came only yesterday, I have equipped myself properly for
Speaker 1: bath already you see, pointing to a new umbrella. I
Speaker 1: wish you would make use of it if you are
Speaker 1: determined to walk, though I think it would be more
Speaker 1: prudent to let me get you a chair. She was
Speaker 1: very much obliged to him, but declined at all, repeating
Speaker 1: her conviction that the rain would come to nothing at present,
Speaker 1: and adding, I am only waiting for mister Eliot. He
Speaker 1: will be here in a moment. I am sure she
Speaker 1: had hardly spoken the words. When mister Elliot walked in,
Speaker 1: Captain Wentworth recollected him perfectly. There was no difference between
Speaker 1: him and the man who had stood on the steps
Speaker 1: at lyme admiring Anne as she passed, except in the
Speaker 1: air and look and manner of the privileged relation and
Speaker 1: friend he came in with eagerness, appeared to see and
Speaker 1: think only of her, apologize for his stay, was grieved
Speaker 1: to have kept her waiting, and anxious to get her
Speaker 1: away without further loss of time, and before the rain increased,
Speaker 1: And in another moment they walked off together, her arm
Speaker 1: under his, a gentle and embarrassed glance, and a good
Speaker 1: morning to you being all that she had time for
Speaker 1: as she passed away. As soon as they were out
Speaker 1: of sight, the ladies of Captain Wentworth's party began talking
Speaker 1: of them. Mister Elliot does not dislike his cousin. I fancy,
Speaker 1: Oh no, that is clear enough. One can guess what
Speaker 1: will happen there. He is always with them, half lives
Speaker 1: in the family I believe what a very good looking man. Yes,
Speaker 1: and Miss Atkinson, who dined with him once at the Wallaces,
Speaker 1: says he is the most agreeable man she ever was
Speaker 1: in company with. She is pretty. I think Anne Elliot
Speaker 1: very pretty when one comes to look at her. It
Speaker 1: is not the fashion to say so, but I confess
Speaker 1: I admire her more than her sister. Oh so do I,
Speaker 1: and so do I. No comparison, but the men are
Speaker 1: all wild after miss Eliot. Anne is too delicate for them.
Speaker 1: Anne would have been particularly obliged to her cousin if
Speaker 1: he would have walked by her side all the way
Speaker 1: to Camden Place without saying a word. She had never
Speaker 1: found it so difficult to listen to him, though nothing
Speaker 1: could exceed his solicitude and care, and though his subjects
Speaker 1: were principally such as were, won't be always interesting. Praise warm,
Speaker 1: just and discriminating of Lady Russell, and insinuations highly rational
Speaker 1: against missus Clay. But just now she could think only
Speaker 1: of Captain Wentworth. She could not understand his present feelings,
Speaker 1: whether he were really suffering much from disappointment or not,
Speaker 1: And till that point were settled, she could not be
Speaker 1: quite herself. She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time,
Speaker 1: but alas alass she must confess to herself that she
Speaker 1: was not wise. Yet another circumstance, very essential for her
Speaker 1: to know was how long he meant to be in Bath.
Speaker 1: He had not mentioned it, or she could not recollect it.
Speaker 1: He might be only passing through, but it was more
Speaker 1: probable that he should become to stay. In that case,
Speaker 1: so liable as everybody was to meet everybody in Bath,
Speaker 1: Lady Russell would in all likelihood see him somewhere. Would
Speaker 1: she recollect him? How would it all be? She had
Speaker 1: already been obliged to tell Lady Russell that Louisa Musgrove
Speaker 1: was to marry Captain Bennock. It had caused her something
Speaker 1: to encounter Lady Russell's surprise, and now if she were
Speaker 1: by chance to be thrown into company with Captain Wentworth,
Speaker 1: her imperfect knowledge of the matter might add another shade
Speaker 1: of prejudice against him. The following morning, Anne was out
Speaker 1: with her friend and for the first hour in an
Speaker 1: incessant and fearful sort of watch for him in Vain.
Speaker 1: But at last, in returning down Pulteney Street, she distinguished
Speaker 1: him on the right hand pavement, at such a distance
Speaker 1: as to have him in view of the greater part
Speaker 1: of the street. There were many other men about him,
Speaker 1: many groups walking the same way, but there was no
Speaker 1: mistaking him. She looked instinctively at the Lady Russell, but
Speaker 1: not from any mad idea of her recognizing him so
Speaker 1: soon as she did herself. No, it was not to
Speaker 1: be supposed that Lady Russell would perceive him till they
Speaker 1: were nearly opposite. She looked at her, however, from time
Speaker 1: to time anxiously, and when the moment approached which must
Speaker 1: point him out, though not daring to look again for
Speaker 1: her own countenance, she knew was unfit to be seen.
Speaker 1: She was yet perfectly conscious of Lady Russell's eyes being
Speaker 1: turned exactly in the direction for him, of her being
Speaker 1: in short intently observing him. She could thoroughly comprehend the
Speaker 1: sort of fascination he must possess over Lady Russell's mind,
Speaker 1: the difficulty it must be for her to withdraw her eyes,
Speaker 1: the astonishment she must be feeling that eight or nine
Speaker 1: years should have passed over him, and in foreign climes,
Speaker 1: and in active service too, without robbing him of one
Speaker 1: personal grace. At last, Lady Russell drew back her head.
Speaker 1: Now how would she speak of him? You will wonder,
Speaker 1: said she? What has been fixing my eye so long?
Speaker 1: But I was looking after some window curtains which Lady
Speaker 1: Alicia and missus Frankland were telling me of last night.
Speaker 1: They described the drawing room window curtains of one of
Speaker 1: the houses on this side of the way and this
Speaker 1: part of the street, as being the handsomest and best
Speaker 1: hung of any in Bath, but could not recollect the
Speaker 1: exact number. And I have been trying to find out
Speaker 1: which it could be, But I confess I can see
Speaker 1: no curtains hereabouts that answered their description. Anne sighed and
Speaker 1: blushed and smiled in pity and disdain, either at her
Speaker 1: friend or herself. The part which provoked her most was
Speaker 1: that in all this waste of forethought and caution, she
Speaker 1: should have lost the right moment for seeing whether he
Speaker 1: saw them. A day or two passed without producing anything.
Speaker 1: The theater or the rooms where he was most likely
Speaker 1: to be were not fashionable enough for the elliots, whose
Speaker 1: evening amusements were solely in the elegant stupidity of private
Speaker 1: parties in which they were getting more and more engaged,
Speaker 1: and Anne, wearied of such a state of stagnation, sick
Speaker 1: of knowing nothing, and fancy being herself stronger because her
Speaker 1: strength was not tried, was quite impatient for the concert evening.
Speaker 1: It was a concert for the benefit of a person
Speaker 1: patronized by Lady Dalrymple. Of course they must attend. It
Speaker 1: was really expected to be a good one, and Captain
Speaker 1: Wentworth was very fond of music. If she could only
Speaker 1: have a few minutes conversation with him again, she fancied
Speaker 1: she should be satisfied, And as to the power of
Speaker 1: addressing him, she felt all over courage. If the opportunity occurred,
Speaker 1: Elizabeth had turned from him, Lady Russell overlooked him. Her
Speaker 1: nerves were strengthened by these circumstances. She felt that she
Speaker 1: owed him attention. She had once partly promised Missus Smith
Speaker 1: to spend the evening with her, but in a short,
Speaker 1: hurried call she excused herself and put it off with
Speaker 1: the more decided promise of a longer visit. On the morrow.
Speaker 1: Missus Smith gave a most good humored acquiescence. By all means, said,
Speaker 1: she only tell me all about it when you do come,
Speaker 1: who is your party? Anne named them all. Missus Smith
Speaker 1: made no reply, but when she was leaving her said,
Speaker 1: and with an expression half serious, half arch, well, I
Speaker 1: heartily wish your concert may answer, and do not fail
Speaker 1: me to morrow if you can come, for I begin
Speaker 1: to have a foreboding that I may not have many
Speaker 1: more visits from you. Anne was startled and confused, but
Speaker 1: after standing in a moment's suspense, was obliged, and not
Speaker 1: sorry to be obliged, to hurry away. End of Chapter
Speaker 1: nineteen