WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:06.160 Chapter eighteen of Persuasion. This is a LibriVox recording. All 2 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:10.000 LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information 3 00:00:10.359 --> 00:00:15.839 or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by 4 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:24.559 Elizabeth Klett. Persuasion by Jane Austen, Chapter eighteen. It was 5 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:27.600 the beginning of February, and Anne, having been a month 6 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:30.519 in Bath, was growing very eager for news from Upper 7 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:33.640 Cross and Lyme. She wanted to hear much more than 8 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.880 Mary had communicated. It was three weeks since she had 9 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:39.799 heard at all. She only knew that Henrietta was at 10 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:43.799 home again and that Louisa, though considered to be recovering fast, 11 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:46.640 was still in Lime. And she was thinking of them 12 00:00:46.759 --> 00:00:49.880 all very intently one evening when a thicker letter than 13 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:53.280 usual from Mary was delivered to her, and to quicken 14 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:57.320 the pleasure and surprise with Admiral and Missus Croft's compliments, 15 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.880 the Croft must be in Bath, a circumstance to interest her. 16 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:05.079 They were people whom her heart turned to very naturally. 17 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:10.159 What is this, cried Sir Walter. The Crofts have arrived 18 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:13.439 in Bath, the Crofts who rent Kellynch. What have they 19 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:18.879 brought you? A letter from uppercross Cottage. Sir, oh, those 20 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:24.239 letters are convenient passports. They secure an introduction. I should 21 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:27.280 have visited Admiral Croft. However, at any rate, I know 22 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:31.439 what is due to my tenant. Anne could listen no longer. 23 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:34.000 She could not even have told how the poor Admiral's 24 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:38.480 complexion escaped. Her letter engrossed her. It had been begun 25 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:44.400 several days back February First, my dear Anne, I make 26 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:47.640 no apology for my silence, because I know how little 27 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:49.799 people think of letters in such a place as bath. 28 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:52.760 You must be a great deal too happy to care 29 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:56.400 for up Across, which, as you well know, affords little 30 00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:00.200 to write about. We have had a very dull Christmaster 31 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:03.079 and Missus Musgrove have not had one dinner party all 32 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.599 the holidays. I do not reckon the haters as anybody. 33 00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:10.120 The holidays, however, are over at last. I believe no 34 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:13.240 children ever had such long ones. I am sure I 35 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:16.800 had not. The house was clared yesterday except of the 36 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:20.159 little Harvilles. But you will be surprised to hear they 37 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:23.280 have never gone home. Missus Harville must be an odd 38 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:26.120 mother to part with them so long. I do not 39 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:29.319 understand it. They are not at all nice children, in 40 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.560 my opinion, but Missus Musgrove seems to like them quite 41 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:37.039 as well, if not better than her grandchildren. What dreadful 42 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:39.639 weather we have had. It may not be felt in 43 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:43.039 Bath with your nice pavements, but in the country it 44 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:46.159 is of some consequence. I have not had a creature 45 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:49.360 call on me since the second week in January, except 46 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:52.639 Charles Hayter, who had been calling much oftener than was 47 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:56.919 welcome between ourselves. I think it a great pity Henrietta 48 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.240 did not remain at lyme as long as Louisa. It 49 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:01.800 would have kept her little out of his way. The 50 00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:04.039 carriage is gone to day to bring lo Weezer and 51 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:07.039 the Harvilles to morrow. We are not asked to dine 52 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:10.000 with them, however, till the day after. Missus Musgrove is 53 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:13.080 so afraid of her being fatigued by the journey, which 54 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:15.639 is not very likely considering the care that would be 55 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:18.199 taken of her, and it would be much more convenient 56 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.159 to me to dine there to morrow. I am glad 57 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:23.759 you find mister Elliot so agreeable, and wish I could 58 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:26.759 be acquainted with him too, But I have my usual luck. 59 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:29.719 I am always out of the way, when anything desirable 60 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:32.400 is going on, always the last of my family to 61 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:35.800 be noticed. What an immense time missus Clay has been 62 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:38.560 staying with Elizabeth does she never mean to go away? 63 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.639 But perhaps if she were to leave the room vacant, 64 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:45.240 we might not be invited. Let me know what you 65 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:48.319 think of this. I do not expect my children to 66 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:50.439 be asked. You know. I can leave them at the 67 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:53.479 Great House very well for a month or six weeks. 68 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:56.080 I have this moment heard that the Crofts are going 69 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:00.319 to bath almost immediately, they think the Admiral gouty Charles 70 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:02.560 heard it quite by chance. They have not had the 71 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:05.919 civility to give me any notice or of offering to take anything. 72 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:08.879 I do not think they improve at all as neighbors. 73 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:11.800 We see nothing of them, and this is really an 74 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:15.360 instance of gross inattention. Charles joins me in love and 75 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:19.720 everything proper yours affectionately, Mary, M. I am sorry to 76 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:22.839 say that I am very far from well, and Jemima 77 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:25.000 has just told me that the butcher says there is 78 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:28.040 a bad sore throat very much about I dare say 79 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:30.639 I shall catch it. And my sore throats, you know, 80 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:35.920 are always worse than anybody's so ended the first part, 81 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:39.399 which had been afterwards put into an envelope containing nearly 82 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:43.279 as much more. I kept my letter open that I 83 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:45.600 might send you word how Louise A bore her journey, 84 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.399 and now I am extremely glad I did, having a 85 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:51.879 great deal to add. In the first place, I had 86 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:55.120 a note from missus Croft yesterday offering to convey anything 87 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:58.480 to you, a very kind, friendly note, indeed addressed to 88 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.800 me just as it ought. I shall therefore be able 89 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:04.120 to make my letter as long as I like. The 90 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:07.240 Admiral does not seem very ill, and I sincerely hope 91 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:09.720 Barth will do him all the good he wants. I 92 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:12.199 shall be truly glad to have them back again. Our 93 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:16.399 neighborhood cannot spare such a pleasant family. But now for Louisa, 94 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:19.079 I have something to communicate that will astonish you not 95 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:22.839 a little. She and the Harvilles came on Tuesday very safely, 96 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:24.959 and in the evening we went to ask her how 97 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:27.720 she did, when we were rather surprised not to find 98 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:30.480 Captain Benneck of the party, for he had been invited 99 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:33.160 as well as the Halfvilles. And what do you think 100 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:37.439 was the reason? Neither more nor less than his being 101 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:40.639 in love with Louisa, and not choosing to venture to 102 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:43.879 Uppercross till he had had an answer from mister Musgrove, 103 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:46.759 for it was all settled between him and her before 104 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.240 she came away, and he had written to her father 105 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:54.560 by Captain Harville. True, upon my honor, are you not astonished? 106 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:57.240 I shall be surprised at least if you ever received 107 00:05:57.240 --> 00:05:59.959 a hint of it, for I never did Missus Muskrow 108 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:03.120 protest solemnly that she knew nothing of the matter. We 109 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.720 are all very well pleased, however, for though it is 110 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:08.920 not equal to her marrying Captain Wentworth, it is infinitely 111 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:12.560 better than Charles Hater. And mister Musgrove has written his consent, 112 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:16.319 and Captain Bennick is expected to day. Missus Harville says 113 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.040 her husband feels a good deal on his poor sister's account. 114 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:23.240 But however, Louisa is a great favorite with both. Indeed, 115 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.439 Missus Harville and I quite agree that we love her 116 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:28.560 the better for having nursed her. Charles wonders what Captain 117 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:31.639 Wentworth will say, But if you remember, I never thought 118 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:34.600 him attached to Louisa. I never could see anything of it. 119 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.079 And this is the end you see of Captain Bennock's 120 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:41.240 being supposed to be an admirer of yours. How Charles 121 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:43.879 could take such a thing into his head was always 122 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:47.879 incomprehensible to me. I hope he will be more agreeable now. 123 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:51.160 Certainly not a great match for Louisa Musgrove, but a 124 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:55.639 million times better than marrying among the haters. Mary need 125 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:58.160 not have feared her sister as being in any degree 126 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:01.160 prepared for the news. She had never in her life 127 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:05.839 been more astonished Captain Bennock and Louisa Musgrove. It was 128 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:09.120 almost too wonderful for belief. And it was with the 129 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:12.000 greatest effort that she could remain in the room, preserve 130 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:15.240 an air of calmness, and answer the common questions of 131 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:18.800 the moment. Happily for her they were not many. Sir 132 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:22.120 Walter wanted to know whether the Crofts traveled with four horses, 133 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:24.480 and whether they were likely to be situated in such 134 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:26.839 a part of Bath as it might suit Miss Elliot 135 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:30.399 and himself to visit in, but had little curiosity beyond 136 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:35.519 how is Mary, said Elizabeth, and without waiting for an answer, 137 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:40.079 and pray what brings the Crofts to Bath? They come 138 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:42.800 on the Admiral's account. He is thought to be gouty, 139 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:49.480 gout and decrepitude, said Sir Walter. Poor old gentleman. Have 140 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:53.680 they any acquaintance here? Asked Elizabeth. I do not know, 141 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:57.120 but I can hardly suppose that at Admiral Croft's time 142 00:07:57.160 --> 00:07:59.759 of life and in his profession, he should not have 143 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:03.399 men acquaintance in such a place as this. I suspect, 144 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:07.240 said Sir Walter coolly, that Admiral Croft will be best 145 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:10.839 known in Bath as the renter of Kellynch Hall. Elizabeth, 146 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:13.399 may we venture to present him and his wife in 147 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:18.800 Laura Place? Oh no, I think not situated as we 148 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:22.399 are with Lady Dalrymple cousins, we ought to be very 149 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:25.600 careful not to embarrass her with acquaintance. She might not approve. 150 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:29.439 If we were not related, it would not signify, But 151 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:32.919 as cousins she should feel scrupulous as to any proposal 152 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:35.519 of ours. We had better leave the Croft to find 153 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:38.879 their own level. There are several odd looking men walking 154 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:42.399 about here who I am told our sailors the Croft 155 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:47.120 will associate with them. This was Sir Walter and Elizabeth's 156 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:49.879 share of interest in the letter. When missus Clay had 157 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:52.759 paid her tribute of more decent attention in an enquiry 158 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:56.279 after Missus Charles Musgrove and her fine little boys, Anne 159 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:59.440 was at liberty in her own room. She tried to 160 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:03.879 comprehend it. Well, might Charles wonder how Captain Wentworth would feel. 161 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:07.360 Perhaps he had quitted the field, had given Louisa up, 162 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.720 had ceased to love, had found he did not love her. 163 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:14.120 She could not endure the idea of treachery or levity, 164 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:17.360 or anything akin to ill usage between him and his friend. 165 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:20.159 She could not endure that such a friendship as there 166 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:25.279 should be severed unfairly. Captain Bennock and Louisa Musgrove, the 167 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:30.240 high spirited, joyous talking Louisa Musgrove and the dejected, thinking, 168 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:34.519 feeling reading Captain Bennick seemed each of them everything that 169 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:38.720 would not suit the other, their minds most dissimilar. Where 170 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:42.799 could have been the attraction? The answer soon presented itself. 171 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:46.399 It had been in situation. They had been thrown together 172 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:49.440 several weeks. They had been living in the same small 173 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:53.320 family party since Henrietta's coming away. They must have been 174 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:57.559 depending almost entirely on each other, and Louisa, just recovering 175 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:00.600 from illness, had been in an interesting state eight, and 176 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:04.320 Captain Benneck was not inconsolable. There was a point which 177 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:07.279 Anne had not been able to avoid suspecting before, and 178 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:10.120 instead of drawing the same conclusion as Mary from the 179 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:13.159 present course of events, they served only to confirm the 180 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:16.679 idea of his having felt some dawning of tenderness toward herself. 181 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.720 She did not mean, however, to derive much more from 182 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:22.559 it to gratify her vanity than Mary might have allowed. 183 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:26.360 She was persuaded that any tolerably pleasing young woman who 184 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:28.679 had listened and seemed to feel for him would have 185 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:32.519 received the same compliment. He had an affectionate heart. He 186 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:37.120 must love somebody. She saw no reason against their being happy. 187 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:40.720 Louisa had fine navel fervor to begin with, and they 188 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:44.080 would soon grow more alike. He would gain cheerfulness, and 189 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.480 she would learn to be an enthusiast for Scott and 190 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:50.399 Lord Byron Nay, that was probably learnt already. Of course, 191 00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:53.919 they had fallen in love over poetry. The idea of 192 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:57.240 Louisa Musgrove turned into a person of literary taste and 193 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:00.960 sentimental reflection was amusing, but she had no doubt of 194 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:04.080 its being so the day at lyme the fall from 195 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:07.480 the cob might influence her health, her nerves, her courage, 196 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:10.360 her character to the end of her life, as thoroughly 197 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:14.120 as it appeared to have influenced her fate. The conclusion 198 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:16.519 of the whole was that if the woman who had 199 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:19.399 been sensible of Captain Wentworth's merits could be allowed to 200 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:22.240 prefer another man. There was nothing in the engagement to 201 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:25.960 excite lasting wonder, and if Captain Wentworth lost no friend 202 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:29.759 by it, certainly nothing to be regretted. No, it was 203 00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:33.080 not regret which made Anne's heart beat in spite of herself, 204 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:35.679 and brought the color into her cheeks. When she thought 205 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:39.519 of Captain Wentworth, unshackled and free. She had some feelings 206 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.360 which she was ashamed to investigate. They were too much 207 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:46.879 like joy, senseless joy. She longed to see the Crofts, 208 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.639 but when the meeting took place, it was evident that 209 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.240 no rumor of the news had yet reached them. The 210 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:55.720 visit of ceremony was paid and returned, and Louisa Musgrove 211 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:59.600 was mentioned, and Captain Bennock too, without even half a smile. 212 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:03.399 The Crofts had placed themselves in lodgings in Gay street 213 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:06.840 perfectly to Sir Walter's satisfaction. He was not at all 214 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.840 ashamed of the acquaintance, and did, in fact think and 215 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.360 talk a great deal more about the Admiral than the 216 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:16.080 Admiral ever thought or talked about him. The Crofts knew 217 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.240 quite as many people in Bath as they wished for, 218 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:21.080 and considered their intercourse with the Elliots as a mere 219 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:23.480 matter of form, and not in the least likely to 220 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:26.480 afford them any pleasure. They brought with them their country 221 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:29.679 habit of being almost always together. He was ordered to 222 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:32.320 walk to keep off the gout, and missus Croft seemed 223 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:34.679 to go shares with him in everything, and to walk 224 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.559 for her life to do him good. Anne saw them 225 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:40.279 wherever she went. Lady Russell took her out in her 226 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:42.919 carriage almost every morning, and she never failed to think 227 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:45.799 of them, and never failed to see them, knowing their 228 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:48.600 feelings as she did. It was a most attractive picture 229 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:51.440 of happiness to her. She always watched them as long 230 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:54.240 as she could, delighted to fancy she understood what they 231 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:57.600 might be talking of as they walked along in happy independence, 232 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.480 or equally delighted to see the Admiral's heart shake of 233 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:03.559 the hand when he encountered an old friend and observed 234 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:06.840 their eagerness of conversation when occasionally forming into a little 235 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:09.879 knot of the navy. Missus Croft looking as intelligent and 236 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.960 keen as any of the officers around her. Anne was 237 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:16.840 too much engaged with Lady Russell to be often walking herself. 238 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.600 But it so happened that one morning, about a week 239 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:22.440 or ten days after the Croft's arrival, it suited her 240 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:25.200 best to leave her friend or her friend's carriage in 241 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.720 the lower part of the town and return alone to 242 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:31.159 Camden Place, And in walking up Milsom Street, she had 243 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:33.519 the good fortune to meet with the Admiral. He was 244 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:36.080 standing by himself at a print shop window, with his 245 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.799 hands behind him, in earnest contemplation of some print, and 246 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:42.320 she not only might have passed him unseen, but was 247 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:44.799 obliged to touch as well as address him, before she 248 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:48.759 could catch his notice. When he did perceive and acknowledge her, however, 249 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:51.600 it was done with all his usual frankness and good humor. 250 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:55.240 Ha is it you? Thank you, thank you? This is 251 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:57.919 treating me like a friend. Here I am, you see, 252 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:00.320 staring at a picture. I can never get by this 253 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:03.320 shop without stopping but what a thing here is by 254 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:05.879 way of a boat? To look at it? Did you 255 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:09.600 ever see the like? What queer fellows, your fine painters 256 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:12.440 must be to think that anybody would venture their lives 257 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:15.600 in such a shapeless old cockle shell as that. And 258 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:18.559 yet here are two gentlemen stuck up in it, mightily 259 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:21.000 at their ease, and looking about them at the rocks 260 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.159 and mountains, as if they were not to be upset 261 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:26.600 the next moment, which they certainly must be. I wonder 262 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:30.639 where that boat was built, laughing heartily, I would not 263 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:35.240 venture over a horsepond in it. Well, turning away, now, 264 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.759 where are you bound? Can I go anywhere? For you? 265 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.600 Or with you? Can I be of any use? None? 266 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:44.159 I thank you, unless you will give me the pleasure 267 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:46.480 of your company. The little way our road lies together. 268 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:50.480 I am going home that I will with all my heart, 269 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:53.559 and farther too. Yes, yes, we will have a snug 270 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:56.480 walk together, And I have something to tell you as 271 00:14:56.519 --> 00:15:00.200 we go along. There, take my arm, that's right. I 272 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:03.639 do not feel comfortable if I have not a woman. There, Lord, 273 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:07.360 what a boat it is. Taking a last look at 274 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.399 the picture, as they began to be in motion, did 275 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:13.559 you say that you had something to tell me, Sir, yes, 276 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:17.720 I have presently. But here comes a friend, Captain Brigden. 277 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:20.799 I shall only say how do you do? As we pass? However, 278 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.919 I shall not stop. How do you do? Brigden stares 279 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:28.159 to see anybody with me, but my wife, she poor soul, 280 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:30.919 is tied by the leg. She has a blister on 281 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:33.360 one of her heels, as large as a three shilling piece. 282 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:36.279 If you look across the street, you will see Admiral 283 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:40.039 brand coming down, and his brother Shabby Fellows. Both of them. 284 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.919 I am glad they are not on this side of 285 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:45.399 the way. Sophie cannot bear them. They played me a 286 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:48.519 pitiful trick. Once got away with some of my best men. 287 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.159 I will tell you the whole story another time. There 288 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:55.440 comes old Sir Archibald Drew and his grandson. Look, he 289 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:57.960 sees us, He kisses his hand to you. He takes 290 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:00.879 you for my wife a. The piece has come too 291 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:05.159 soon for that, younker, poor old sir Archibald. How do 292 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:08.159 you like bath, miss Eliot? It suits us very well. 293 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:10.840 We were always meeting with some old friend a rubber, 294 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:13.519 the streets full of them every morning, sure to have 295 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.120 plenty of chat and then we get away from them 296 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:19.039 all and shut ourselves in our lodgings, and draw on 297 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.039 our chairs and are as snug as if we were 298 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:23.759 at kellynch Ay, or as we used to be even 299 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:26.639 at north Yarmouth, and deal we do not like our 300 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.080 lodgings here the worse I can tell you for putting 301 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.639 us in mind of those we first had at north Yarmouth. 302 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.360 The wind blows through one of the cupboards just in 303 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:38.200 the same way. When they were got a little further, 304 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.200 Anne ventured to press again for what he had to communicate. 305 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.960 She hoped, when clear of Milsome Street, to have her 306 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:47.559 curiosity gratified, but she was still obliged to wait for 307 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.679 The admiral had made up his mind not to begin 308 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.759 till they had gained the greater space and quiet of Belmont, 309 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:55.919 and as she was not really missus Croft, she must 310 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.399 let him have his own way. As soon as they 311 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:03.200 were fairly ascending Belmont, he began, well, now you shall 312 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:06.680 hear something that will surprise you. But first of all 313 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:08.880 you must tell me the name of the young lady 314 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:12.200 I'm going to talk about. That young lady. You know 315 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:16.200 that we have all been so concerned for the miss Musgrove, 316 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.480 that all this has been happening to her Christian name. 317 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:23.920 I always forget her Christian name. Anne had been ashamed 318 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:26.559 to appear to comprehend so soon as she really did. 319 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:29.799 But now she could safely suggest the name of Louisa. 320 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:34.519 Ay ay, Miss Louisa Musgrove, that is the name. I 321 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:36.920 wish young ladies had not such a number of fine 322 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:39.680 Christian names. I should never be out if they were 323 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:43.839 all Sophie's or something of that sort. Well, this miss Louisa, 324 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.799 we all thought, you know, was to marry Frederick. He 325 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:50.359 was courting her week after week. The only wonder was 326 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.599 what they could be waiting for till the business at 327 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:55.559 Lime came. Then, indeed, it was clear enough they must 328 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:58.079 wait till her brain was set to right. But even 329 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:00.240 then there was something odd in their way way of 330 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:02.920 going on. Instead of staying at Lyme, he went off 331 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:05.039 to Plymouth, and then he went off to see Edward. 332 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.759 When he came back from Minehead, he was gone down 333 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:10.480 to Edwards, and there he has been ever since. We 334 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:13.839 have seen nothing of him since November. Even Sophie could 335 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:17.160 not understand it. But now the matter has taken the 336 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:20.799 strangest turn of all, for this young lady, the same 337 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:23.839 Miss Mosgrove, instead of being to marry Frederick, is to 338 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:28.839 marry James Bennick. You know James Bennick a little. I 339 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:32.519 am a little acquainted with Captain Bennick. Well she is 340 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:35.880 to marry him. Nay, most likely they are married already, 341 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.880 for I do not know what they should wait for. 342 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:42.640 I thought Captain Bennick a very pleasing young man, said Anne, 343 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:47.200 And I understand that he bears an excellent character. Oh yes, yes, 344 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:49.440 there is not a word to be said against James Bennick. 345 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:53.039 He is only a commander, it is true, made last summer, 346 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:55.799 and these are bad times for getting on. But he 347 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:58.519 has not another fault that I know of. An excellent, 348 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:01.720 good hearted fellow. I assure you a very active, zealous 349 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:04.599 officer too, which is more than you would think for perhaps, 350 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:08.759 for that soft sort of manner does not do him justice. 351 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:12.359 Indeed you are mistaken there, sir. I should never orger 352 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:15.480 want of spirit from Captain Bennock's manners. I thought them 353 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:18.559 particularly pleasing, and I will answer for it. They would 354 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:23.240 generally please. Well. Well, ladies are the best judges, but 355 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.920 James Bennock is rather too piano for me. And though 356 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:30.200 very likely it is all our partiality, Sophie and I 357 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:33.720 cannot help thinking Frederick's manners better than his. There is 358 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:38.599 something about Frederick more to our taste. Anne was caught. 359 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:41.519 She had only meant to oppose the too common idea 360 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:44.960 of spirit and gentleness being incompatible with each other, and 361 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:47.480 not at all to represent Captain Bennock's manners as the 362 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:51.000 very best that could possibly be. And after a little hesitation, 363 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:54.880 she was beginning to say, I was not entering into 364 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:58.480 any comparison of the two friends, but the Admiral interrupted 365 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:01.839 her with and the thinging is certainly true. It is 366 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:04.079 not a mere bit of gossip. We have it from 367 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.519 Frederick himself. His sister had a letter from him yesterday 368 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:09.519 in which he tells us of it, and he had 369 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:11.960 just had it in a letter from Harville, written upon 370 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:16.240 the spot from Uppercross. I fancy they are all at Uppercross. 371 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:20.880 This was an opportunity which Anne could not resist. She said. Therefore, 372 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:24.119 I hope, Admiral, I hope there is nothing in the 373 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:26.960 style of Captain Wentworth's letter to make you and missus 374 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:31.319 Croft particularly uneasy. It did seem last autumn as if 375 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:34.359 there were an attachment between him and Louisa Musgrove. But 376 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:36.319 I hope it may be understood to have worn out 377 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:39.880 on each side equally and without violence. I hope his 378 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.680 letter did not breathe the spirit of an ill used man. 379 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:46.359 Not at all, Not at all. There is not an 380 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:50.240 oath or a murmur from beginning to end. Anne looked 381 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:53.640 down to hide her smile. No, No, Frederick is not 382 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:56.279 a man to whine and complain. He has too much 383 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:59.400 spirit for that. If the girl likes another man better, 384 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:03.319 it is very fit she should have him, certainly. But 385 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:05.839 what I mean is that I hope there is nothing 386 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:08.920 in Captain Wentworth's manner of writing to make you suppose 387 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:12.319 he thinks himself ill used by his friend, which might appear, 388 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:15.559 you know, without its being absolutely said. I should be 389 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:18.480 very sorry that such a friendship as has subsisted between 390 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:21.880 him and Captain Bennock should be destroyed or even wounded 391 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:26.680 by a circumstance of this sort. Yes, yes, I understand you, 392 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:29.079 But there is nothing at all of that nature in 393 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:32.000 the letter. He does not give the least fling at Bennick, 394 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:34.720 does not so much to say I wonder at it. 395 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:38.039 I have a reason on my own for wondering at it. No, 396 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:40.240 you would not guess from his way of writing that 397 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:42.960 he had ever thought of this miss Watson name for himself. 398 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:45.920 He very handsomely hopes they will be very happy together. 399 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:48.599 And there is nothing very unforgiving in that. I think 400 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:52.799 Anne did not receive the perfect conviction which the Admiral 401 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:55.279