From this time Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot were repeatedly in the same circle. They were soon dining in company together at Mr Musgrove's, for the little boy's state could no longer supply his aunt with a pretence1 for absenting herself; and this was but the beginning of other dinings and other meetings.
Whether former feelings were to be renewed must be brought to the proof; former times must undoubtedly2 be brought to the recollection of each; they could not but be reverted3 to; the year of their engagement could not but be named by him, in the little narratives4 or descriptions which conversation called forth5. His profession qualified6 him, his disposition7 lead him, to talk; and "That was in the year six;" "That happened before I went to sea in the year six, " occurred in the course of the first evening they spent together: and though his voice did not falter8, and though she had no reason to suppose his eye wandering towards her while he spoke9, Anne felt the utter impossibility, from her knowledge of his mind, that he could be unvisited by remembrance any more than herself. There must be the same immediate10 association of thought, though she was very far from conceiving it to be of equal pain.
They had no conversation together, no intercourse11 but what the commonest civility required. Once so much to each other! Now nothing! There had been a time, when of all the large party now filling the drawing-room at Uppercross, they would have found it most difficult to cease to speak to one another. With the exception, perhaps, of Admiral and Mrs Croft, who seemed particularly attached and happy, (Anne could allow no other exceptions even among the married couples), there could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison12, no countenances13 so beloved. Now they were as strangers; nay14, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement15.
When he talked, she heard the same voice, and discerned the same mind. There was a very general ignorance of all naval16 matters throughout the party; and he was very much questioned, and especially by the two Miss Musgroves, who seemed hardly to have any eyes but for him, as to the manner of living on board, daily regulations, food, hours, &c. , and their surprise at his accounts, at learning the degree of accommodation and arrangement which was practicable, drew from him some pleasant ridicule17, which reminded Anne of the early days when she too had been ignorant, and she too had been accused of supposing sailors to be living on board without anything to eat, or any cook to dress it if there were, or any servant to wait, or any knife and fork to use.
From thus listening and thinking, she was roused by a whisper of Mrs Musgrove's who, overcome by fond regrets, could not help saying--
"Ah! Miss Anne, if it had pleased Heaven to spare my poor son, I dare say he would have been just such another by this time. "
Anne suppressed a smile, and listened kindly18, while Mrs Musgrove relieved her heart a little more; and for a few minutes, therefore, could not keep pace with the conversation of the others.
When she could let her attention take its natural course again, she found the Miss Musgroves just fetching the Navy List (their own navy list, the first that had ever been at Uppercross), and sitting down together to pore over it, with the professed19 view of finding out the ships that Captain Wentworth had commanded.
"Your first was the Asp, I remember; we will look for the Asp. "
"You will not find her there. Quite worn out and broken up. I was the last man who commanded her. Hardly fit for service then. Reported fit for home service for a year or two, and so I was sent off to the West Indies. "
The girls looked all amazement20.
"The Admiralty, " he continued, "entertain themselves now and then, with sending a few hundred men to sea, in a ship not fit to be employed. But they have a great many to provide for; and among the thousands that may just as well go to the bottom as not, it is impossible for them to distinguish the very set who may be least missed. "
"Phoo! phoo!" cried the Admiral, "what stuff these young fellows talk! Never was a better sloop21 than the Asp in her day. For an old built sloop, you would not see her equal. Lucky fellow to get her! He knows there must have been twenty better men than himself applying for her at the same time. Lucky fellow to get anything so soon, with no more interest than his. "
"I felt my luck, Admiral, I assure you;" replied Captain Wentworth, seriously. "I was as well satisfied with my appointment as you can desire. It was a great object with me at that time to be at sea; a very great object, I wanted to be doing something. "
"To be sure you did. What should a young fellow like you do ashore22 for half a year together? If a man had not a wife, he soon wants to be afloat again. "
"But, Captain Wentworth, " cried Louisa, "how vexed23 you must have been when you came to the Asp, to see what an old thing they had given you. "
"I knew pretty well what she was before that day;" said he, smiling. "I had no more discoveries to make than you would have as to the fashion and strength of any old pelisse, which you had seen lent about among half your acquaintance ever since you could remember, and which at last, on some very wet day, is lent to yourself. Ah! she was a dear old Asp to me. She did all that I wanted. I knew she would. I knew that we should either go to the bottom together, or that she would be the making of me; and I never had two days of foul24 weather all the time I was at sea in her; and after taking privateers enough to be very entertaining, I had the good luck in my passage home the next autumn, to fall in with the very French frigate25 I wanted. I brought her into Plymouth; and here another instance of luck. We had not been six hours in the Sound, when a gale26 came on, which lasted four days and nights, and which would have done for poor old Asp in half the time; our touch with the Great Nation not having much improved our condition. Four-and-twenty hours later, and I should only have been a gallant27 Captain Wentworth, in a small paragraph at one corner of the newspapers; and being lost in only a sloop, nobody would have thought about me. " Anne's shudderings were to herself alone; but the Miss Musgroves could be as open as they were sincere, in their exclamations28 of pity and horror.
"And so then, I suppose, " said Mrs Musgrove, in a low voice, as if thinking aloud, "so then he went away to the Laconia, and there he met with our poor boy. Charles, my dear, " (beckoning him to her), "do ask Captain Wentworth where it was he first met with your poor brother. I always forgot. "
"It was at Gibraltar, mother, I know. Dick had been left ill at Gibraltar, with a recommendation from his former captain to Captain Wentworth. "
"Oh! but, Charles, tell Captain Wentworth, he need not be afraid of mentioning poor Dick before me, for it would be rather a pleasure to hear him talked of by such a good friend. "
Charles, being somewhat more mindful of the probabilities of the case, only nodded in reply, and walked away.
The girls were now hunting for the Laconia; and Captain Wentworth could not deny himself the pleasure of taking the precious volume into his own hands to save them the trouble, and once more read aloud the little statement of her name and rate, and present non-commissioned class, observing over it that she too had been one of the best friends man ever had.
"Ah! those were pleasant days when I had the Laconia! How fast I made money in her. A friend of mine and I had such a lovely cruise together off the Western Islands. Poor Harville, sister! You know how much he wanted money: worse than myself. He had a wife. Excellent fellow. I shall never forget his happiness. He felt it all, so much for her sake. I wished for him again the next summer, when I had still the same luck in the Mediterranean29. "
"And I am sure, Sir. " said Mrs Musgrove, "it was a lucky day for us, when you were put captain into that ship. We shall never forget what you did. "
Her feelings made her speak low; and Captain Wentworth, hearing only in part, and probably not having Dick Musgrove at all near his thoughts, looked rather in suspense30, and as if waiting for more.
"My brother, " whispered one of the girls; "mamma is thinking of poor Richard. "
"Poor dear fellow!" continued Mrs Musgrove; "he was grown so steady, and such an excellent correspondent, while he was under your care! Ah! it would have been a happy thing, if he had never left you. I assure you, Captain Wentworth, we are very sorry he ever left you. "
There was a momentary31 expression in Captain Wentworth's face at this speech, a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome mouth, which convinced Anne, that instead of sharing in Mrs Musgrove's kind wishes, as to her son, he had probably been at some pains to get rid of him; but it was too transient an indulgence of self-amusement to be detected by any who understood him less than herself; in another moment he was perfectly32 collected and serious, and almost instantly afterwards coming up to the sofa, on which she and Mrs Musgrove were sitting, took a place by the latter, and entered into conversation with her, in a low voice, about her son, doing it with so much sympathy and natural grace, as shewed the kindest consideration for all that was real and unabsurd in the parent's feelings.
They were actually on the same sofa, for Mrs Musgrove had most readily made room for him; they were divided only by Mrs Musgrove. It was no insignificant33 barrier, indeed. Mrs Musgrove was of a comfortable, substantial size, infinitely34 more fitted by nature to express good cheer and good humour, than tenderness and sentiment; and while the agitations35 of Anne's slender form, and pensive36 face, may be considered as very completely screened, Captain Wentworth should be allowed some credit for the self-command with which he attended to her large fat sighings over the destiny of a son, whom alive nobody had cared for.
Personal size and mental sorrow have certainly no necessary proportions. A large bulky figure has as good a right to be in deep affliction, as the most graceful37 set of limbs in the world. But, fair or not fair, there are unbecoming conjunctions, which reason will patronize in vain-- which taste cannot tolerate--which ridicule will seize.
The Admiral, after taking two or three refreshing38 turns about the room with his hands behind him, being called to order by his wife, now came up to Captain Wentworth, and without any observation of what he might be interrupting, thinking only of his own thoughts, began with--
"If you had been a week later at Lisbon, last spring, Frederick, you would have been asked to give a passage to Lady Mary Grierson and her daughters. "
"Should I? I am glad I was not a week later then. "
The Admiral abused him for his want of gallantry. He defended himself; though professing39 that he would never willingly admit any ladies on board a ship of his, excepting for a ball, or a visit, which a few hours might comprehend.
"But, if I know myself, " said he, "this is from no want of gallantry towards them. It is rather from feeling how impossible it is, with all one's efforts, and all one's sacrifices, to make the accommodations on board such as women ought to have. There can be no want of gallantry, Admiral, in rating the claims of women to every personal comfort high, and this is what I do. I hate to hear of women on board, or to see them on board; and no ship under my command shall ever convey a family of ladies anywhere, if I can help it. "
This brought his sister upon him.
"Oh! Frederick! But I cannot believe it of you. --All idle refinement40! --Women may be as comfortable on board, as in the best house in England. I believe I have lived as much on board as most women, and I know nothing superior to the accommodations of a man-of-war. I declare I have not a comfort or an indulgence about me, even at Kellynch Hall, " (with a kind bow to Anne), "beyond what I always had in most of the ships I have lived in; and they have been five altogether. "
"Nothing to the purpose, " replied her brother. "You were living with your husband, and were the only woman on board. "
"But you, yourself, brought Mrs Harville, her sister, her cousin, and three children, round from Portsmouth to Plymouth. Where was this superfine, extraordinary sort of gallantry of yours then?"
"All merged41 in my friendship, Sophia. I would assist any brother officer's wife that I could, and I would bring anything of Harville's from the world's end, if he wanted it. But do not imagine that I did not feel it an evil in itself. "
"Depend upon it, they were all perfectly comfortable. "
"I might not like them the better for that perhaps. Such a number of women and children have no right to be comfortable on board. "
"My dear Frederick, you are talking quite idly. Pray, what would become of us poor sailors' wives, who often want to be conveyed to one port or another, after our husbands, if everybody had your feelings?"
"My feelings, you see, did not prevent my taking Mrs Harville and all her family to Plymouth. "
"But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days. "
"Ah! my dear, " said the Admiral, "when he had got a wife, he will sing a different tune42. When he is married, if we have the good luck to live to another war, we shall see him do as you and I, and a great many others, have done. We shall have him very thankful to anybody that will bring him his wife. "
"Ay, that we shall. "
"Now I have done, " cried Captain Wentworth. "When once married people begin to attack me with, --`Oh! you will think very differently, when you are married. ' I can only say, `No, I shall not;' and then they say again, `Yes, you will, ' and there is an end of it. "
He got up and moved away.
"What a great traveller you must have been, ma'am!" said Mrs Musgrove to Mrs Croft.
"Pretty well, ma'am in the fifteen years of my marriage; though many women have done more. I have crossed the Atlantic four times, and have been once to the East Indies, and back again, and only once; besides being in different places about home: Cork43, and Lisbon, and Gibraltar. But I never went beyond the Streights, and never was in the West Indies. We do not call Bermuda or Bahama, you know, the West Indies. "
Mrs Musgrove had not a word to say in dissent44; she could not accuse herself of having ever called them anything in the whole course of her life.
"And I do assure you, ma'am, " pursued Mrs Croft, "that nothing can exceed the accommodations of a man-of-war; I speak, you know, of the higher rates. When you come to a frigate, of course, you are more confined; though any reasonable woman may be perfectly happy in one of them; and I can safely say, that the happiest part of my life has been spent on board a ship. While we were together, you know, there was nothing to be feared. Thank God! I have always been blessed with excellent health, and no climate disagrees with me. A little disordered always the first twenty-four hours of going to sea, but never knew what sickness was afterwards. The only time I ever really suffered in body or mind, the only time that I ever fancied myself unwell, or had any ideas of danger, was the winter that I passed by myself at Deal, when the Admiral (Captain Croft then) was in the North Seas. I lived in perpetual fright at that time, and had all manner of imaginary complaints from not knowing what to do with myself, or when I should hear from him next; but as long as we could be together, nothing ever ailed45 me, and I never met with the smallest inconvenience. "
"Aye, to be sure. Yes, indeed, oh yes! I am quite of your opinion, Mrs Croft, " was Mrs Musgrove's hearty46 answer. "There is nothing so bad as a separation. I am quite of your opinion. I know what it is, for Mr Musgrove always attends the assizes, and I am so glad when they are over, and he is safe back again. "
The evening ended with dancing. On its being proposed, Anne offered her services, as usual; and though her eyes would sometimes fill with tears as she sat at the instrument, she was extremely glad to be employed, and desired nothing in return but to be unobserved.
It was a merry, joyous47 party, and no one seemed in higher spirits than Captain Wentworth. She felt that he had every thing to elevate him which general attention and deference48, and especially the attention of all the young women, could do. The Miss Hayters, the females of the family of cousins already mentioned, were apparently49 admitted to the honour of being in love with him; and as for Henrietta and Louisa, they both seemed so entirely50 occupied by him, that nothing but the continued appearance of the most perfect good-will between themselves could have made it credible51 that they were not decided52 rivals. If he were a little spoilt by such universal, such eager admiration53, who could wonder?
These were some of the thoughts which occupied Anne, while her fingers were mechanically at work, proceeding54 for half an hour together, equally without error, and without consciousness. Once she felt that he was looking at herself, observing her altered features, perhaps, trying to trace in them the ruins of the face which had once charmed him; and once she knew that he must have spoken of her; she was hardly aware of it, till she heard the answer; but then she was sure of his having asked his partner whether Miss Elliot never danced? The answer was, "Oh, no; never; she has quite given up dancing. She had rather play. She is never tired of playing. " Once, too, he spoke to her. She had left the instrument on the dancing being over, and he had sat down to try to make out an air which he wished to give the Miss Musgroves an idea of. Unintentionally she returned to that part of the room; he saw her, and, instantly rising, said, with studied politeness--
"I beg your pardon, madam, this is your seat;" and though she immediately drew back with a decided negative, he was not to be induced to sit down again.
Anne did not wish for more of such looks and speeches. His cold politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything.
从此以后，温特沃思上校和安妮·埃利奥特便经常出入同一社交场合。他们马上就要一起到默斯格罗夫先生府上赴宴，因为孩子的病情已不能再为姨妈的缺席提供托词；而这仅仅是其他宴会、聚会的开端。
过去的感情能不能恢复，这必须经过检验。毫无疑问，双方总要想起过去的日子，那是必然要回想的。谈话需要谈些细枝末节，他势必会提到他们订婚的年份。他的职业使他有资格这么说，他的性情也导致他这么说。“那是在一八O六年；”“那事发生在我出海前的一八O六年，”他们在一起度过的头一天晚上，他就说出了这样的话。虽然他的声音没有颤抖，虽然安妮没有理由认为他说话时眼睛在盯着她，但是安妮凭着自己对他内心的了解，觉得说他可以不像她自己那样回想过去，那是完全不可能的。虽然安妮决不认为双方在忍受着同样的痛苦，但他们肯定会马上产生同样的感触。
他们在一起无话可说，只是出于最起码的礼貌寒暄两句。他们一度有那么多话好说！现在却无话可谈！曾经有过一度，在如今聚集在厄泼克劳斯客厅的这一大帮人中，就数他俩最难以做到相互闭口不语。也许除了表面上看来恩爱弥笃的克罗夫特夫妇以外(安妮找不出别的例外，即使在新婚夫妇中也找不到)，没有哪两个人能像他们那样推心置腹，那样情投意合，那样和颜悦色。现在，他们竟然成了陌生人；不，连陌生人还不如，因为他们永远也结交不了。这是永久的疏远。
他说话的时候，她听到了同样的声音，觉察出同样的心境。宾主中间，大多数人对海军的事情一无所知，因此大伙七嘴八舌地问了他许多问题，特别是两位默斯格罗夫小姐，眼睛似乎别无他顾，一个劲儿地瞧着他。她们问起了他在舰上的生活方式，日常的规章制度，饮食和作息时间等等。听着他的述说，得知人居然能把膳宿起居安排到这种地步，她们不禁大为惊讶，于是又逗得他惬意地讥笑了几句；这就使安妮想起了过去的日子，当时她也是一无所知，也受到过他的指摘，说她以为水兵呆在舰上没有东西吃，即使有东西吃，也没有厨师加工，没有仆人侍奉，没有刀叉可用。
她就这么听着想着，不料被默斯格罗夫太太打断了。原来，她实在悲痛难忍，情不自禁地悄声说道：
“唉！安妮小姐，要是当初上帝肯饶我那可怜的孩子一命，他现在肯定也会是这么一个人。”
安妮忍住了笑，并且好心好意地又听她倾吐了几句心里话。因此，有一阵，她没听到众人说了些什么。
等她的注意力又恢复正常以后，她发现两位默斯格罗夫小姐找来了海军名册(这是她们自己的海军名册，也是厄泼克劳斯有史以来的头一份)，一道坐下来读了起来，公开表示要找到温特沃思上校指挥过的舰只。
“我记得你的第一艘军舰是‘阿斯普号’。我们找找‘阿斯普号’。”
“它破败不堪，早就不顶用了，你们在那里可找不到它。我是最后一个指挥它的，当时就几乎不能服役了。据报告它还可以在本国海域服一两年役，于是我便被派到了西印度群岛。”
两位小姐大为惊奇。
“英国海军部还真能寻开心，”他继续说道，“不时地要派出几百个人，乘着一艘不堪使用的舰只出海。不过他们要供养的人太多了。在那数以千计的葬身海底也无妨的人们中，他们无法辨别究竟哪一伙人最不值得痛惜。”
“得了！得了！”将军大声嚷道，“这些年轻人在胡说些什么！当时没有比‘阿斯普号’更好的舰艇啦。作为旧舰，你还见不到一艘能比得上它的。能得到它算你运气！你知道，当初准有二十个比你强的人同时要求指挥它。就凭着你那点资格，能这么快就捞到一艘军舰，算你幸运。”
“将军，我当然感到自己很幸运，”温特沃思上校带着严肃的口吻答道。“我对自己的任职就像你希望的那样心满意足。我当时的头等大事是出海。一个头等重要的大事就是我想有点事情干。”
“你当然想啦。像你那样的年轻小伙子干吗要在岸上呆足半年呢？一个人要是没有妻室，他马上就想再回到海上。”
“可是，温特沃思上校，”路易莎嚷道，“等你来到‘阿斯普号’上，一看他们给了你这么个旧家伙，你该有多恼火啊！”
“早在上舰那天之前，我就很了解它的底细，”上校笑吟吟地答道。“我后来没有多少新发现，就像你对一件旧长外衣的款式和耐磨力不会有多少新发现一样，因为你记得曾看见这件长外衣在你半数的朋友中被租来租去，最后在一个大雨天又租给了你自己。唔！它是我可爱的老‘阿斯普号’。它实现了我的全部愿望。我知道它会成全我的。我知道，要么我们一起葬身海底，要么它使我飞黄腾达。我指挥它出海的所有时间里，连两天的坏天气都没碰上。第二年秋天，我俘获不少私掠船，觉得够意思了，便启程回国，真是福从天降，我遇到我梦寐以求的法国护卫舰。我把它带进了普利茅斯。在这里，我又碰到了一次运气。我们在海湾里还没呆到六个小时，突然刮起了一阵狂风，持续了四天四夜，要是可怜的老‘阿斯普号’还在海上的话，有这一半时间就会把它报销掉；因为我们同法国的联系并未使我们的情况得到很大的改善。再过二十四小时，我就会变成壮烈的温特沃思上校，在报纸的一个角角上发一条消息。丧身在一条小小的舰艇上，谁也不会再想到我啦。”
安妮只是自己觉得在颤抖。不过两位默斯格罗夫小姐倒可以做到既诚挚又坦率，情不自禁地发出了怜悯和惊恐的喊叫。
“这么说来，”默斯格罗夫太太低声说道，仿佛自言自语似的，“这么说来，他被调到了‘拉科尼亚号’上，在那里遇见了我那可怜的孩子。查尔斯，我亲爱的，”她招手让查尔斯到她跟前。“快问问他，他最初是在哪里遇见你那可怜的弟弟的，我总是记不住。”
“母亲，我知道，是在直布罗陀。迪克因病留在直布罗陀，他先前的舰长给温特沃思上校写了封介绍信。”
“唔！查尔斯，告诉温特沃思上校，叫他不用害怕在我面前提起可怜的迪克，因为听到这样一位好朋友谈起他，我反而会感到舒坦些。”
查尔斯考虑到事情的种种可能性，只是点了点头，便走开了。
两位小姐眼下正在查找“拉科尼亚号”。温特沃思上校岂能错过机会，他为了给她们省麻烦，兴致勃勃地将那卷宝贵的海军手册拿到自己手里，把有关“拉科尼亚号”的名称、等级以及当前暂不服役的一小段文字又朗读了一遍，说它也是人类有史以来的一个最好的朋友。
“啊，那是我指挥‘拉科尼亚号’的愉快日子。我靠它赚钱赚得多快啊！我和我的一位朋友曾在西部群岛附近做过一次愉快的巡航。就是可怜的哈维尔呀，姐姐！你知道他是多么想发财啊，比我想得还厉害。他有个妻子。多好的小伙子啊！我永远忘不了他那个幸福劲儿。他完全意识到了这种幸福，一切都是为了她。第二年夏天，我在地中海同样走运的时候，便又想念起他来了。”
“我敢说，先生，”默斯格罗夫太太说道，“你到那条舰上当舰长的那天，对我们可是个吉庆日子。我们永远忘不了你的恩典。”
她因为感情压抑，话音很低。温特沃思上校只听清了一部分，再加上他心里可能压根儿没有想到迪克·默斯格罗夫，因此显得有些茫然，似乎在等着她继续往下说。
“我哥哥，”一位小姐说道，“妈妈想起了可怜的理查德。”
“可怜的好孩子！”默斯格罗夫太太继续说道。“他受到你关照
的时候，变得多踏实啊，信也写得那么好！唉！他要是始终不离开你，那该有多幸运呀！老实对你说吧，温特沃思上校，他离开你真叫我们感到遗憾。”
听了这番话，温特沃思上校的脸上掠过了一种神情，只见他那炯炯有神的眼睛一瞥，漂亮的嘴巴一抿，安妮当即意识到：他并不想跟着默斯格罗夫太太对她的儿子表示良好的祝愿，相反，倒可能是他想方设法把他搞走的。但是这种自得其乐的神情瞬息即逝，不像安妮那样了解他的人根本察觉不到。转眼间，他完全恢复了镇定，露出很严肃的样子，立即走到安妮和默斯格罗夫太太就坐的长沙发跟前，在后者身旁坐了下来，同她低声谈起了她的儿子。他谈得落落大方，言语中充满了同情，表明他对那位做母亲的那些真挚而并非荒诞的感情，还是极为关切的。
他同安妮实际上坐到了同一张沙发上，因为默斯格罗夫太太十分爽快地给他让了个地方，他们之间只隔着个默斯格罗夫太太。这的确是个不小的障碍。默斯格罗夫太太身材高大而匀称，她天生只会显示嘻嘻哈哈的兴致，而不善于表露温柔体贴的感情。安妮感到焦灼不安，只不过她那纤细的倩影和忧郁的面孔可以说是被完全遮住了。应该称赞的是温特沃思上校，他尽量克制自己，倾听着默斯格罗夫太太为儿子的命运长吁短叹。其实，她这儿子活着的时候，谁也不把他放在心上。
当然，身材的高低和内心的哀伤不一定构成正比。一个高大肥胖的人和世界上最纤巧玲珑的人一样，完全能够陷入极度的悲痛之中。但是，无论公平与否，它们之间还存在着不恰当的关联，这是理智所无法赞助的——是情趣所无法容忍的——也是要取笑于他人的。
将军想提提神，背着手在屋里踱了两三转之后，他妻子提醒他要有规矩，他索性来到温特沃思上校跟前，也不注意是否打扰别人，心里只管想着自己的心思，便开口说道:
“弗雷德里克，去年春天你若是在里斯本多呆上一个星期，就会有人委托你让玛丽·格里尔森夫人和她的女儿们搭乘你的舰艇。”
“真的吗？那我倒要庆幸自己没有多呆一个星期！”
将军责备他没有礼貌。他为自己申辩，但同时又说他决不愿意让任何太太小姐来到他的舰上，除非是来参加舞会，或是来参观，有几个小时就够了。
“不过，据我所知，”他说，“这不是由于我对她们缺乏礼貌，而是觉得你作出再大的努力，付出再大的代价，也不可能为女人提供应有的膳宿条件。将军，把女人对个人舒适的要求看得高一些，这谈不上对她们缺乏礼貌，我正是这样做的。我不愿听说女人呆在舰上，不愿看见她们呆在舰上。如果不是万不得已，我指挥的舰艇决不会把一家子太太小姐送到任何地方。”
这下子，他姐姐可就不饶他了。
“哦！弗雷德里克！我真不敢相信你会说出这种话。全是无聊的自作高雅！女人呆在船上可以像呆在英国最好的房子里一样舒适。我认为我在船上生活的时间不比大多数女人短，我知道军舰上的膳宿条件是再优越不过了。实话说吧，我现在享受的舒适安逸条件，甚至包括在凯林奇大厦的舒适安逸条件，”她向安妮友好地点点头，“还没超过我在大多数军舰上一直享有的条件。我总共在五艘军舰上生活过。”
“这不能说明问题，”她弟弟答道。“你是和你丈夫生活在一起，是舰上唯一的女人。”
“可是你自己却把哈维尔夫人、她妹妹、她表妹以及三个孩子从朴次茅斯带到了普利茅斯。你这种无微不至的、异乎寻常的殷勤劲儿，又该如何解释呢？”
“完全出自我的友情，索菲娅。如果我能办得到的话，我愿意帮助任何一位军官弟兄的妻子。如果哈维尔需要的话，我愿意把他的
任何东西从天涯海角带给他。不过，你别以为我不觉得这样做不好。”
“放心吧，她们都感到十分舒适。”
“也许我不会因此而喜欢她们。这么一大帮女人孩子在舰上不可能感到舒适。”
“亲爱的弗雷德里克，你说得真轻巧。我们是可怜的水兵的妻子，往往愿意一个港口一个港口地奔波下去，追逐自己的丈夫。如果个个都抱着你这样的思想，请问我们可怎么办？”
“你瞧，我有这样的思想可并没有妨碍我把哈维尔夫人一家子带到普利茅斯。”
“我讨厌你说起话来像个高贵的绅士，仿佛女人都是高贵的淑女，一点也不通情达理似的。我们谁也不期待一生一世都万事如意。”
“唔！亲爱的，”将军说道，“等他有了妻子，他就要变调子啦。等他娶了妻子，如果我们有幸能赶上另外一场战争，那我们就将发现他会像你我以及其他许多人那样做的。谁要是给他带来了妻子，他也会感激不尽的。”
“啊，那还用说。”
“这下子我可完了，”温特沃思上校嚷道。“一旦结过婚的人攻击我说:‘哦！等你结了婚你的想法就会大不相同了。’我只能说：‘不，我的想法不会变。’接着他们又说：‘会的，你会变的。’这样一来，事情就完了。”
他立起身，走开了。
“你一定是个了不起的旅行家啊，夫人！”默斯格罗夫太太对克罗夫特夫人说道。
“差不多吧，太太，我结婚十五年来跑了不少地方。不过有许多女人比我跑的地方还多。我四次横渡大西洋，去过一次东印度群岛，然后再返回来，不过只有一次。此外还到过英国周围的一些地方：科克，里斯本，以及直布罗陀。不过我从来没有去过直布罗陀海峡以远的地方，从来没有去过西印度群岛。你知道，我们不把百慕大和巴哈马称作西印度群岛。”
默斯格罗夫太太也提不出什么异议，她无法指责自己活了一辈子连这些地方都不知道。
“我实话对你说吧，太太，”克罗夫特夫人接着说，“什么地方也超不过军舰上的生活条件。你知道我说的是高等级的军舰。当然，你要是来到一艘护卫舰上，你就会觉得限制大一些。不过通情达理的女人在那上面还是会感到十分快活的。我可以万无一失地这样说：我生平最幸福的岁月是在军舰上度过的。你知道，我们在一起的时候什么也不怕。谢天谢地！我的身体一直很健康，什么气候我
都能适应。出海的头二十四小时总会有点不舒服，可是后来就不知道什么叫不舒服啦。我只有一次真正感到身上不爽、心里难受，只有一次觉得自己不舒服，或者说觉得有点危险——那就是我单独在迪尔（英格兰东南部肯特郡的港口城市）度过的那个冬天，那时候，克罗夫特将军(当时是上校)正在北海。那阵子，我无时无刻不在担惊受怕，由于不知道孤独一人该怎么办才好，不知道何时能收到他的信，各种各样的病症，凡是你能想象得到的，我都占全了。可是只要我们呆在一起，我就从来不生病，从来没有遇到一丝半点的不舒服。”
“啊，那还用说。哦，是的，的确如此！克罗夫特夫人，我完全赞成你的观点，”默斯格罗夫太太热诚地答道。“没有比夫妻分离更糟糕的事情了。我完全赞成你的观点。我知道这个滋味，因为默斯格罗夫先生总要参加郡司法会议；会议结束以后，他平平安安地回来了，我不知道有多高兴。”
晚会的末了是跳舞。这个建议一提出，安妮便像往常一样表示愿意伴奏。她坐到钢琴跟前虽说有时眼泪汪汪的，但她为自己有事可做而感到极为高兴，她不希望得到什么报偿，只要没有人注视她就行了。
这是一个欢快的晚会。看来，谁也不像温特沃思上校那样兴致勃勃。她觉得，他完全有理由感到振奋，因为他受到了众人的赏识和尊敬，尤其是受到了几位年轻小姐的赏识。前面已经提到默斯格罗夫小姐有一家表亲，这家的两位海特小姐显然都荣幸地爱上了他。至于说到亨丽埃塔和路易莎，她们两人似乎都在一心一意地想着他，可以使人相信她们不是情敌的只有一个迹象，即她们之间表面上仍然保持着情同手足的关系。假如他因为受到如此广泛、如此热切的爱慕而变得有点翘尾巴，谁会感到奇怪呢？
这是安妮在思付的部分念头。她的手指机械地弹奏着，整整弹了半个钟头，既准确无误，又浑然不觉。一次，她觉得他在盯视着她，也许是在观察她那变了样的容颜，试图从中找出一度使他着迷的那张面孔的痕迹。还有一次，她知道他准是说起了她，这是她听见别人的答话以后才意识到的。他肯定在问他的伙伴埃利奥特小姐是不是从不跳舞？回答是：“哦！是的，从来不跳。她已经完全放弃了跳舞。她愿意弹琴，从来弹不腻。”一次，他还同她搭话。当时舞跳完了，她离开了钢琴，温特沃思上校随即坐了下来，想弹支曲子，让两位默斯格罗夫小姐听听。不料安妮无意中又回到了那个地方；温特沃思看见了她，当即立起身，拘谨有礼地说道：
“请原谅，小姐，这是您的位置。”虽说安妮果断地拒绝了，连忙向后退了回去，可上校却没有因此而再坐下来。
安妮不想再见到这样的神气，不想再听到这样的言语。他的冷漠斯文和故作优雅比什么都叫她难受。
收听单词发音 |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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narratives
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| 记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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estrangement
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| n.疏远，失和，不和 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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agitations
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| （液体等的）摇动( agitation的名词复数 )； 鼓动； 激烈争论； （情绪等的）纷乱 | |
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pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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professing
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| 声称( profess的现在分词 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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ailed
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| v.生病( ail的过去式和过去分词 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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53
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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54
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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