CHAPTER XX.
關燈
小
中
大
e,“withoutknowingsomethingofMissAnneElliotandIdoregardherasonewhoistoomodestfortheworldingeneraltobeawareofhalfheraccomplishments,andtoohighlyaccomplishedformodestytobenaturalinanyotherwoman.”
“Forshame!forshame!thisistoomuchflattery.Iforgetwhatwearetohavenext,”turningtothebill.
“Perhaps,”saidMrElliot,speakinglow,“Ihavehadalongeracquaintancewithyourcharacterthanyouareawareof.”
“Indeed!Howso?YoucanhavebeenacquaintedwithitonlysinceIcametoBath,exceptingasyoumighthearmepreviouslyspokenofinmyownfamily.”
“IknewyoubyreportlongbeforeyoucametoBath.Ihadheardyoudescribedbythosewhoknewyouintimately.Ihavebeenacquaintedwithyoubycharactermanyyears.Yourperson,yourdisposition,accomplishments,mannertheywereallpresenttome.”
MrElliotwasnotdisappointedintheinteresthehopedtoraise.Noonecanwithstandthecharmofsuchamystery.Tohavebeendescribedlongagotoarecentacquaintance,bynamelesspeople,isirresistibleandAnnewasallcuriosity.Shewondered,andquestionedhimeagerlybutinvain.Hedelightedinbeingasked,buthewouldnottell.
“No,no,sometimeorother,perhaps,butnotnow.Hewouldmentionnonamesnowbutsuch,hecouldassureher,hadbeenthefact.HehadmanyyearsagoreceivedsuchadescriptionofMissAnneElliotashadinspiredhimwiththehighestideaofhermerit,andexcitedthewarmestcuriositytoknowher.”
AnnecouldthinkofnoonesolikelytohavespokenwithpartialityofhermanyyearsagoastheMrWentworthofMonkford,CaptainWentworth’sbrother.HemighthavebeeninMrElliot’scompany,butshehadnotcouragetoaskthequestion.
“ThenameofAnneElliot,”saidhe,“haslonghadaninterestingsoundtome.Verylonghasitpossessedacharmovermyfancyand,ifIdared,Iwouldbreathemywishesthatthenamemightneverchange.”
Such,shebelieved,werehiswordsbutscarcelyhadshereceivedtheirsound,thanherattentionwascaughtbyothersoundsimmediatelybehindher,whichrenderedeverythingelsetrivial.HerfatherandLadyDalrymplewerespeaking.
“Awell-lookingman,”saidSirWalter,“averywell-lookingman.”
“Averyfineyoungmanindeed!”saidLadyDalrymple.“MoreairthanoneoftenseesinBath.Irish,Idaresay.”
“No,Ijustknowhisname.Abowingacquaintance.WentworthCaptainWentworthofthenavy.HissistermarriedmytenantinSomersetshire,theCroft,whorentsKellynch.”
BeforeSirWalterhadreachedthispoint,Anne’seyeshadcaughttherightdirection,anddistinguishedCaptainWentworthstandingamongaclusterofmenatalittledistance.Ashereyesfellonhim,hisseemedtobewithdrawnfromher.Ithadthatappearance.Itseemedasifshehadbeenonemomenttoolateandaslongasshedaredobserve,hedidnotlookagain:buttheperformancewasrecommencing,andshewasforcedtoseemtorestoreherattentiontotheorchestraandlookstraightforward.
Whenshecouldgiveanotherglance,hehadmovedaway.Hecouldnothavecomenearertoherifhewouldshewassosurroundedandshutin:butshewouldratherhavecaughthiseye.
MrElliot’sspeech,too,distressedher.Shehadnolongeranyinclinationtotalktohim.Shewishedhimnotsonearher.
Thefirstactwasover.Nowshehopedforsomebeneficialchangeand,afteraperiodofnothing-sayingamongsttheparty,someofthemdiddecideongoinginquestoftea.Annewasoneofthefewwhodidnotchoosetomove.Sheremainedinherseat,andsodidLadyRussellbutshehadthepleasureofgettingridofMrElliotandshedidnotmean,whatevershemightfeelonLadyRussell’saccount,toshrinkfromconversationwithCaptainWentworth,ifhegavehertheopportunity.ShewaspersuadedbyLadyRussell