Other opportunities of making her observations could not fail to occur. Anne had soon been in company with all the four together often enough to have an opinion, though too wise to acknowledge as much at home, where she knew it would have satisfied neither husband nor wife; for while she considered Louisa to be rather the favourite, she could not but think, as far as she might dare to judge from memory and experience, that Captain Wentworth was not in love with either. They were more in love with him; yet there it was not love. It was a little fever of admiration1; but it might, probably must, end in love with some. Charles Hayter seemed aware of being slighted, and yet Henrietta had sometimes the air of being divided between them. Anne longed for the power of representing to them all what they were about, and of pointing out some of the evils they were exposing themselves to. She did not attribute guile2 to any. It was the highest satisfaction to her to believe Captain Wentworth not in the least aware of the pain he was occasioning. There was no triumph, no pitiful triumph in his manner. He had, probably, never heard, and never thought of any claims of Charles Hayter. He was only wrong in accepting the attentions (for accepting must be the word) of two young women at once.
After a short struggle, however, Charles Hayter seemed to quit the field. Three days had passed without his coming once to Uppercross; a most decided3 change. He had even refused one regular invitation to dinner; and having been found on the occasion by Mr Musgrove with some large books before him, Mr and Mrs Musgrove were sure all could not be right, and talked, with grave faces, of his studying himself to death. It was Mary's hope and belief that he had received a positive dismissal from Henrietta, and her husband lived under the constant dependence4 of seeing him to-morrow. Anne could only feel that Charles Hayter was wise.
One morning, about this time Charles Musgrove and Captain Wentworth being gone a-shooting together, as the sisters in the Cottage were sitting quietly at work, they were visited at the window by the sisters from the Mansion-house.
It was a very fine November day, and the Miss Musgroves came through the little grounds, and stopped for no other purpose than to say, that they were going to take a long walk, and therefore concluded Mary could not like to go with them; and when Mary immediately replied, with some jealousy5 at not being supposed a good walker, "Oh, yes, I should like to join you very much, I am very fond of a long walk;" Anne felt persuaded, by the looks of the two girls, that it was precisely6 what they did not wish, and admired again the sort of necessity which the family habits seemed to produce, of everything being to be communicated, and everything being to be done together, however undesired and inconvenient7. She tried to dissuade8 Mary from going, but in vain; and that being the case, thought it best to accept the Miss Musgroves' much more cordial invitation to herself to go likewise, as she might be useful in turning back with her sister, and lessening9 the interference in any plan of their own.
"I cannot imagine why they should suppose I should not like a long walk, " said Mary, as she went up stairs. "Everybody is always supposing that I am not a good walker; and yet they would not have been pleased, if we had refused to join them. When people come in this manner on purpose to ask us, how can one say no?"
Just as they were setting off, the gentlemen returned. They had taken out a young dog, who had spoilt their sport, and sent them back early. Their time and strength, and spirits, were, therefore, exactly ready for this walk, and they entered into it with pleasure. Could Anne have foreseen such a junction10, she would have staid at home; but, from some feelings of interest and curiosity, she fancied now that it was too late to retract11, and the whole six set forward together in the direction chosen by the Miss Musgroves, who evidently considered the walk as under their guidance.
Anne's object was, not to be in the way of anybody; and where the narrow paths across the fields made many separations necessary, to keep with her brother and sister. Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny12 leaves, and withered13 hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical14 descriptions extant of autumn, that season of peculiar15 and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness, that season which had drawn16 from every poet, worthy17 of being read, some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling. She occupied her mind as much as possible in such like musings and quotations19; but it was not possible, that when within reach of Captain Wentworth's conversation with either of the Miss Musgroves, she should not try to hear it; yet she caught little very remarkable20. It was mere21 lively chat, such as any young persons, on an intimate footing, might fall into. He was more engaged with Louisa than with Henrietta. Louisa certainly put more forward for his notice than her sister. This distinction appeared to increase, and there was one speech of Louisa's which struck her. After one of the many praises of the day, which were continually bursting forth22, Captain Wentworth added: --
"What glorious weather for the Admiral and my sister! They meant to take a long drive this morning; perhaps we may hail them from some of these hills. They talked of coming into this side of the country. I wonder whereabouts they will upset to-day. Oh! it does happen very often, I assure you; but my sister makes nothing of it; she would as lieve be tossed out as not. "
"Ah! You make the most of it, I know, " cried Louisa, "but if it were really so, I should do just the same in her place. If I loved a man, as she loves the Admiral, I would always be with him, nothing should ever separate us, and I would rather be overturned by him, than driven safely by anybody else. "
It was spoken with enthusiasm.
"Had you?" cried he, catching24 the same tone; "I honour you!" And there was silence between them for a little while.
Anne could not immediately fall into a quotation18 again. The sweet scenes of autumn were for a while put by, unless some tender sonnet25, fraught26 with the apt analogy of the declining year, with declining happiness, and the images of youth and hope, and spring, all gone together, blessed her memory. She roused herself to say, as they struck by order into another path, "Is not this one of the ways to Winthrop?" But nobody heard, or, at least, nobody answered her.
Winthrop, however, or its environs--for young men are, sometimes to be met with, strolling about near home--was their destination; and after another half mile of gradual ascent27 through large enclosures, where the ploughs at work, and the fresh made path spoke23 the farmer counteracting28 the sweets of poetical despondence, and meaning to have spring again, they gained the summit of the most considerable hill, which parted Uppercross and Winthrop, and soon commanded a full view of the latter, at the foot of the hill on the other side.
Winthrop, without beauty and without dignity, was stretched before them an indifferent house, standing29 low, and hemmed30 in by the barns and buildings of a farm-yard.
Mary exclaimed, "Bless me! here is Winthrop. I declare I had no idea! Well now, I think we had better turn back; I am excessively tired. "
Henrietta, conscious and ashamed, and seeing no cousin Charles walking along any path, or leaning against any gate, was ready to do as Mary wished; but "No!" said Charles Musgrove, and "No, no!" cried Louisa more eagerly, and taking her sister aside, seemed to be arguing the matter warmly.
Charles, in the meanwhile, was very decidedly declaring his resolution of calling on his aunt, now that he was so near; and very evidently, though more fearfully, trying to induce his wife to go too. But this was one of the points on which the lady shewed her strength; and when he recommended the advantage of resting herself a quarter of an hour at Winthrop, as she felt so tired, she resolutely31 answered, "Oh! no, indeed! walking up that hill again would do her more harm than any sitting down could do her good;" and, in short, her look and manner declared, that go she would not.
After a little succession of these sort of debates and consultations32, it was settled between Charles and his two sisters, that he and Henrietta should just run down for a few minutes, to see their aunt and cousins, while the rest of the party waited for them at the top of the hill. Louisa seemed the principal arranger of the plan; and, as she went a little way with them, down the hill, still talking to Henrietta, Mary took the opportunity of looking scornfully around her, and saying to Captain Wentworth--
"It is very unpleasant, having such connexions! But, I assure you, I have never been in the house above twice in my life. "
She received no other answer, than an artificial, assenting33 smile, followed by a contemptuous glance, as he turned away, which Anne perfectly34 knew the meaning of.
The brow of the hill, where they remained, was a cheerful spot: Louisa returned; and Mary, finding a comfortable seat for herself on the step of a stile, was very well satisfied so long as the others all stood about her; but when Louisa drew Captain Wentworth away, to try for a gleaning35 of nuts in an adjoining hedge-row, and they were gone by degrees quite out of sight and sound, Mary was happy no longer; she quarrelled with her own seat, was sure Louisa had got a much better somewhere, and nothing could prevent her from going to look for a better also. She turned through the same gate, but could not see them. Anne found a nice seat for her, on a dry sunny bank, under the hedge-row, in which she had no doubt of their still being, in some spot or other. Mary sat down for a moment, but it would not do; she was sure Louisa had found a better seat somewhere else, and she would go on till she overtook her.
Anne, really tired herself, was glad to sit down; and she very soon heard Captain Wentworth and Louisa in the hedge-row, behind her, as if making their way back along the rough, wild sort of channel, down the centre. They were speaking as they drew near. Louisa's voice was the first distinguished36. She seemed to be in the middle of some eager speech. What Anne first heard was--
"And so, I made her go. I could not bear that she should be frightened from the visit by such nonsense. What! would I be turned back from doing a thing that I had determined37 to do, and that I knew to be right, by the airs and interference of such a person, or of any person I may say? No, I have no idea of being so easily persuaded. When I have made up my mind, I have made it; and Henrietta seemed entirely38 to have made up hers to call at Winthrop to-day; and yet, she was as near giving it up, out of nonsensical complaisance39!"
"She would have turned back then, but for you?"
"She would indeed. I am almost ashamed to say it. "
"Happy for her, to have such a mind as yours at hand! After the hints you gave just now, which did but confirm my own observations, the last time I was in company with him, I need not affect to have no comprehension of what is going on. I see that more than a mere dutiful morning visit to your aunt was in question; and woe40 betide him, and her too, when it comes to things of consequence, when they are placed in circumstances requiring fortitude41 and strength of mind, if she have not resolution enough to resist idle interference in such a trifle as this. Your sister is an amiable42 creature; but yours is the character of decision and firmness, I see. If you value her conduct or happiness, infuse as much of your own spirit into her as you can. But this, no doubt, you have been always doing. It is the worst evil of too yielding and indecisive a character, that no influence over it can be depended on. You are never sure of a good impression being durable43; everybody may sway it. Let those who would be happy be firm. Here is a nut, " said he, catching one down from an upper bough44. "to exemplify: a beautiful glossy45 nut, which, blessed with original strength, has outlived all the storms of autumn. Not a puncture46, not a weak spot anywhere. This nut, " he continued, with playful solemnity, "while so many of his brethren have fallen and been trodden under foot, is still in possession of all the happiness that a hazel nut can be supposed capable of. " Then returning to his former earnest tone-- "My first wish for all whom I am interested in, is that they should be firm. If Louisa Musgrove would be beautiful and happy in her November of life, she will cherish all her present powers of mind. "
He had done, and was unanswered. It would have surprised Anne if Louisa could have readily answered such a speech: words of such interest, spoken with such serious warmth! She could imagine what Louisa was feeling. For herself, she feared to move, lest she should be seen. While she remained, a bush of low rambling47 holly48 protected her, and they were moving on. Before they were beyond her hearing, however, Louisa spoke again.
"Mary is good-natured enough in many respects, " said she; "but she does sometimes provoke me excessively, by her nonsense and pride--the Elliot pride. She has a great deal too much of the Elliot pride. We do so wish that Charles had married Anne instead. I suppose you know he wanted to marry Anne?"
After a moment's pause, Captain Wentworth said--
"Do you mean that she refused him?"
"Oh! yes; certainly. "
"When did that happen?"
"I do not exactly know, for Henrietta and I were at school at the time; but I believe about a year before he married Mary. I wish she had accepted him. We should all have liked her a great deal better; and papa and mamma always think it was her great friend Lady Russell's doing, that she did not. They think Charles might not be learned and bookish enough to please Lady Russell, and that therefore, she persuaded Anne to refuse him. "
The sounds were retreating, and Anne distinguished no more. Her own emotions still kept her fixed49. She had much to recover from, before she could move. The listener's proverbial fate was not absolutely hers; she had heard no evil of herself, but she had heard a great deal of very painful import. She saw how her own character was considered by Captain Wentworth, and there had been just that degree of feeling and curiosity about her in his manner which must give her extreme agitation50.
As soon as she could, she went after Mary, and having found, and walked back with her to their former station, by the stile, felt some comfort in their whole party being immediately afterwards collected, and once more in motion together. Her spirits wanted the solitude51 and silence which only numbers could give.
Charles and Henrietta returned, bringing, as may be conjectured52, Charles Hayter with them. The minutiae53 of the business Anne could not attempt to understand; even Captain Wentworth did not seem admitted to perfect confidence here; but that there had been a withdrawing on the gentleman's side, and a relenting on the lady's, and that they were now very glad to be together again, did not admit a doubt. Henrietta looked a little ashamed, but very well pleased;-- Charles Hayter exceedingly happy: and they were devoted54 to each other almost from the first instant of their all setting forward for Uppercross.
Everything now marked out Louisa for Captain Wentworth; nothing could be plainer; and where many divisions were necessary, or even where they were not, they walked side by side nearly as much as the other two. In a long strip of meadow land, where there was ample space for all, they were thus divided, forming three distinct parties; and to that party of the three which boasted least animation55, and least complaisance, Anne necessarily belonged. She joined Charles and Mary, and was tired enough to be very glad of Charles's other arm; but Charles, though in very good humour with her, was out of temper with his wife. Mary had shewn herself disobliging to him, and was now to reap the consequence, which consequence was his dropping her arm almost every moment to cut off the heads of some nettles56 in the hedge with his switch; and when Mary began to complain of it, and lament57 her being ill-used, according to custom, in being on the hedge side, while Anne was never incommoded on the other, he dropped the arms of both to hunt after a weasel which he had a momentary58 glance of, and they could hardly get him along at all.
This long meadow bordered a lane, which their footpath59, at the end of it was to cross, and when the party had all reached the gate of exit, the carriage advancing in the same direction, which had been some time heard, was just coming up, and proved to be Admiral Croft's gig. He and his wife had taken their intended drive, and were returning home. Upon hearing how long a walk the young people had engaged in, they kindly60 offered a seat to any lady who might be particularly tired; it would save her a full mile, and they were going through Uppercross. The invitation was general, and generally declined. The Miss Musgroves were not at all tired, and Mary was either offended, by not being asked before any of the others, or what Louisa called the Elliot pride could not endure to make a third in a one horse chaise.
The walking party had crossed the lane, and were surmounting61 an opposite stile, and the Admiral was putting his horse in motion again, when Captain Wentworth cleared the hedge in a moment to say something to his sister. The something might be guessed by its effects.
"Miss Elliot, I am sure you are tired, " cried Mrs Croft. "Do let us have the pleasure of taking you home. Here is excellent room for three, I assure you. If we were all like you, I believe we might sit four. You must, indeed, you must. "
Anne was still in the lane; and though instinctively62 beginning to decline, she was not allowed to proceed. The Admiral's kind urgency came in support of his wife's; they would not be refused; they compressed themselves into the smallest possible space to leave her a corner, and Captain Wentworth, without saying a word, turned to her, and quietly obliged her to be assisted into the carriage.
Yes; he had done it. She was in the carriage, and felt that he had placed her there, that his will and his hands had done it, that she owed it to his perception of her fatigue63, and his resolution to give her rest. She was very much affected64 by the view of his disposition65 towards her, which all these things made apparent. This little circumstance seemed the completion of all that had gone before. She understood him. He could not forgive her, but he could not be unfeeling. Though condemning66 her for the past, and considering it with high and unjust resentment67, though perfectly careless of her, and though becoming attached to another, still he could not see her suffer, without the desire of giving her relief. It was a remainder of former sentiment; it was an impulse of pure, though unacknowledged friendship; it was a proof of his own warm and amiable heart, which she could not contemplate68 without emotions so compounded of pleasure and pain, that she knew not which prevailed.
Her answers to the kindness and the remarks of her companions were at first unconsciously given. They had travelled half their way along the rough lane, before she was quite awake to what they said. She then found them talking of "Frederick. "
"He certainly means to have one or other of those two girls, Sophy, " said the Admiral; "but there is no saying which. He has been running after them, too, long enough, one would think, to make up his mind. Ay, this comes of the peace. If it were war now, he would have settled it long ago. We sailors, Miss Elliot, cannot afford to make long courtships in time of war. How many days was it, my dear, between the first time of my seeing you and our sitting down together in our lodgings69 at North Yarmouth?"
"We had better not talk about it, my dear, " replied Mrs Croft, pleasantly; "for if Miss Elliot were to hear how soon we came to an understanding, she would never be persuaded that we could be happy together. I had known you by character, however, long before. "
"Well, and I had heard of you as a very pretty girl, and what were we to wait for besides? I do not like having such things so long in hand. I wish Frederick would spread a little more canvass70, and bring us home one of these young ladies to Kellynch. Then there would always be company for them. And very nice young ladies they both are; I hardly know one from the other. "
"Very good humoured, unaffected girls, indeed, " said Mrs Croft, in a tone of calmer praise, such as made Anne suspect that her keener powers might not consider either of them as quite worthy of her brother; "and a very respectable family. One could not be connected with better people. My dear Admiral, that post! we shall certainly take that post. "
But by coolly giving the reins71 a better direction herself they happily passed the danger; and by once afterwards judiciously72 putting out her hand they neither fell into a rut, nor ran foul73 of a dung-cart; and Anne, with some amusement at their style of driving, which she imagined no bad representation of the general guidance of their affairs, found herself safely deposited by them at the Cottage.
安妮总会有机会进行观察的。过了不久，她便常同他们四个人混在一起了，对事情也就有了自己的看法。不过她是个明智的人，到了家里就不承认自己有看法，因为她知道，这看法一说出去，查尔斯夫妻俩都不会感到满意。原来，她虽然认为温特沃思上校更喜欢路易莎，但是她根据自己的记忆和体验可以大胆地断定，他对两个人都不爱。她们更喜欢他，然而那还算不上爱情。他是有一点热烈的爱慕之情，最后也许，或者说很可能同哪一位堕入情网。查尔斯·海特似乎也知道自己受到了冷落，可是亨丽埃塔有时看起来倒像是脚踏两只船。安妮希望自己能够向他们大家说明他们搞的是什么名堂，向他们指出他们面临的某些危险。她并不认为哪个人有欺骗行为。使她深感欣慰的是，她相信温特沃思上校压根儿不觉得他给什么人带来了痛苦。他的举止中见不到洋洋得意的神气，见不到那种令人生厌的洋洋得意的神气。他八成从未听说过，也从未想到过查尔斯·海特会跟她们哪一位相好。他唯一的过错是不该马上接受(因为“接受”是个恰当的字眼)两位年轻小姐的殷勤表示。
不过，经过一阵短暂的思想斗争，查尔斯·海特似乎不战而退了。三天过去了，他一次也没有来过厄泼克劳斯。这个变化太明显了。他甚至于拒绝了一次正式的宴请。默斯格罗夫先生当场发现他面前摆着几本大部头的书，他们老两口当即断定这孩子不大对头，便带着严肃的神气议论说，他这样用功非累死不可。玛丽希望，而且也相信，他受到了亨丽埃塔的断然拒绝，她丈夫则总是指望明天能见到他。安妮倒觉得查尔斯·海特比较明智。
大约就在这段时间的一天早上，查尔斯·默斯格罗夫和温特沃思上校一道打猎去了，乡舍的姊妹俩正坐在那里不声不响地做活计，大宅的两位小姐来到了她们的窗口。
当时正值十一月间，那天天气又特别好，两位默斯格罗夫小姐来到了小园子，停下来没有别的意图，只想说一声她们要进行一次长距离散步，因此断定玛丽不会愿意同她们一起去。谁想玛丽最忌讳人家认为她不擅长走路，便立即回答说：“唔，去的！我很想和你们一道去，我非常喜欢长距离散步。”安妮从两位小姐的神色里看得出来，这正是她们所不希望的，但是出于家庭习惯，她们无论遇到什么事情，不管多么不情愿，多么不方便，都要互相通通气，都要一道来做，对此她又感到羡慕。她想劝说玛丽不要去，但是无济于事。情况既然如此，她觉得最好接受两位默斯格罗夫小姐的盛情邀请，索性也跟着一起去，以便好同妹妹一道回来，尽量少干扰她们的计划。
“我简直无法想象，她们凭啥认为我不喜欢长距离散步，”玛丽上楼时说道。“人们总是认为我不擅长走路。可是，假如我们不肯陪她们一起去，她们又要不高兴了。别人特意来邀请我们，你怎么好拒绝呢？”
她们正要出发的时候，两位先生回来了。原来，他们带去的一只幼犬败坏了他们打猎的兴致，两人便早早地回来了。因为时间赶得巧，再加上体力充沛，兴致勃勃，正想散散步，便高高兴兴地加入了她们的行列。假若安妮事先能预见到这一巧合的话，她早就呆在家里了。不过，她出于某种好奇心，觉得现在又来不及退缩了，于是他们六个人便朝着两位默斯格罗夫小姐选择的方向，一道出发了。两位小姐显然认为，这次散步得由她们引路。
安妮的用意是不要妨碍任何人。当田间小路太狭窄需要分开走时，她就和妹妹妹夫走在一起。她散步的乐趣一定在于想趁着这大好天气活动活动，观赏一下这一年中最后剩余的明媚景色，看看那黄树叶和枯树篱，吟诵几首那成千成百的描绘秋色的诗篇，因为秋天能给风雅、善感的人儿带来无穷无尽的特殊感染，因为秋天博得了每一位值得一读的诗人的吟咏，写下了动人心弦的诗句。她尽量聚精会神地沉思着，吟诵着。但是，温特沃思上校就在附近同两位默斯格罗夫小姐交谈，她不可能听不见。不过，她没有听到什么异乎寻常的内容。他们只是像任何关系密切的青年人一样，在嘻嘻哈哈地闲聊。上校更注意的是路易莎，而不是亨丽埃塔。路易莎当然比姐姐更活跃，好赢得他的青睐。这种差别似乎越来越明显，尤其是路易莎的一席话给她留下了深刻的印象。本来，他们总要不时地迸出几句赞美天气的话；一次赞叹完天气之后，温特沃思上校接着说道：
“这天气真美了将军和我姐姐！他们今天上午就想坐着车子跑得远远的。说不定我们还能从这些山上向他们打招呼呢。他们议论过要来这一带的。我真不知道他们今天会在哪儿翻车。哦！实话对你们说吧，这种事儿经常发生。不过我姐姐毫不在乎，她倒很乐意从车子里给甩出来。”
“唔！我晓得你是有意夸张，”路易莎嚷道。“不过万一情况果真如此，我若是处在你姐姐的地位也会这么做的。假若我能像她爱将军那样爱某个人，我就要永远和他呆在一起，无论如何也不分离。我宁肯让他把我翻到沟里，也不愿乘着别人的车子稳稳当当地行走。”
这话说得热情洋溢。
“真有这事？”上校带着同样的口气嚷道，“你真叫我敬佩！”说罢两人沉默了一会。
安妮当即再也背诵不出什么诗句了。一时间，秋天的宜人景色被置诸脑后，除非她能记起一首动人的十四行诗，诗中充满了对那残年余兴的妥帖比拟，全然见不到对青春、希望和春天的形象写照。等大家遵命走上另外一条小路时，她打断了自己的沉思，说道：
“这不是一条通往温思罗普的小路吗？”可惜谁也没听见她的话语，至少没有人回答她。
然而，温思罗普一带正是他们要去的地方，有些年轻人在家门前散步，有时就在这里相遇。他们穿过大片的圈地，顺着缓坡向上又走了半英里，只见农夫们正在犁地，坡上新辟了一条小径，表明农家人不信诗人的那一套，不图那伤感的乐趣，而要迎接春天的再度到来。说话间他们来到那座最高的山峰上，山峰把厄泼克劳斯和温思罗普隔开，立在山顶，坐落在那边山角下的温思罗普顿时一览无遗。
温思罗普展现在他们的面前，既不美丽，也不庄严——一幢平平常常的矮宅子，四周围着农场的谷仓和建筑物。
玛丽惊叫了起来：“我的天哪！这儿是温思罗普。我真没想到！唔，我想我们最好往回走吧，我累得不行了。”
亨丽埃塔不觉有些羞羞答答的，况且又见不到表兄查尔斯沿路走来，也见不到他倚在大门口，便很想遵照玛丽的意愿办事。可是查尔斯·默斯格罗夫却说：“不行！”路易莎更是急切地嚷道：“不行！不行！”她把她姐姐拉到一边，似乎为这事争得很激烈。
这当儿，查尔斯却坚决表示，既然离得这么近了，一定要去看看姨妈。他尽管心里有些怕，可显然还在动员妻子跟着一起去。不料夫人这次表现得非常坚决。任凭他说什么她太累了，最好到温思罗普休息一刻钟，她却毅然决然地答道：“哦！那可不行！还要爬回这座山，给我带来的害处之大，再怎么休息也弥补不了。”总而言之，她的神态表明，她坚决不要去。
经过一阵不长的争执和协商，查尔斯和他的两个妹妹说定：他和亨丽埃塔下去少呆几分钟，瞧瞧姨妈和表兄妹，其他人就在山顶上等候他们。路易莎似乎是主要的策划者，她陪着他俩朝山下走了一小段，一面还在同亨丽埃塔嘀咕什么，玛丽趁此机会鄙夷不屑地环顾一下四周，然后对温特沃思上校说道：
“有这类亲戚真叫人扫兴！不过，实话对你说吧，我去他们家没超过两次。”
听了这话，温特沃思只是故作赞同地莞尔一笑。随后，他一转身，眼睛里又投出了鄙视的目光，安妮完全明白这其中的涵义。
他们呆在山顶上，那是个愉快的去处。路易莎回来了。玛丽在一道树篱的阶梯上拣了个舒适的地方坐了下来，见其他人都立在她的四周，也就感到十分得意。谁想路易莎偏偏把温特沃思上校拉走了，要到附近的树篱那里去采坚果，渐渐地走得无影无声了，这一来玛丽可不高兴了。她埋怨自己坐得不是地方，心想路易莎一准找到了个比这儿好得多的地点，自己说什么也要去找个更好的地点。她跨进了同一道门，但是却见不到他们。安妮在树篱下面干燥向阳的土埂上给玛丽找了个舒适的地方，她相信那两个人仍然呆在这树篱中的某个地方（据奥斯丁利的《回亿录》所称：奥斯丁小说中的“树篱"(hedgerow)不是一般意义上的“一排树篱”，而是一种形状不定的矮树丛，里面有曲径小道）。玛丽坐了一刻，可是又觉得不满意。她心想路易莎一定在别处找到了更好的位置。她要继续挪动，直至找到她为止。
安妮确实累了，便索性坐下来。过不一会，她听见温特沃思上校和路易莎就呆在她身后的树篱里，好像正沿着树篱中央崎岖荒芜的小径往回走。两人越走越近，一边还在说着话。她首先分辨出了路易莎的声音。她似乎正在急切地谈论什么。安妮最先听见她这样说：
“就这样，我把她动员走了。我不能容忍她因为听了几句胡言乱语就不敢去走亲戚了。什么！我会不会因为遇到这样一个人，或者可以说任何人装模作样的干涉，就不去干那些我原来决定要干而又深信不疑的事情？不，我才不那么好说服呢。我一旦定下决心，那就不变了。看样子，亨丽埃塔今天本来是打定主意要去温思罗普那里走访的，可她刚才出于无聊的多礼，险些儿不肯去了！”
“这么说，要不是亏了你，她就回去了？”
“那敢情是。我说起来真有点害躁。”
“她真幸运，有你这样的聪明人在一旁指点！我最后一次和你表兄在一起时观察到一些现象，你刚才的话只不过证实了我的观察是有根据的，听了之后我也不必假装对眼下的事情不可理解。我看得出来，他们一早去拜访姨妈不单是想尽本分。等他们遇到要紧事儿，遇到需要坚强毅力的情况时，如果她一味优柔寡断，碰上这样的芥末小事的无聊干扰都顶不住，那么他们两个不是活该要受罪吗？你姐姐是个和气人。可我看得出来，你的性格就很坚决果断。你要是珍惜她的行为和幸福的话，就尽可能向她多灌输些你自己的精神。不过，你无疑一直是在这么做的。对于一个百依百顺、优柔寡断的人来说，最大的不幸是不能指望受到别人的影响。好的印象是绝对不能持久的，任何人都能使之发生动摇。让那些想获得幸福的人变得坚定起来吧。这里有坚果，”他说着从树枝上摘下了一只，“可以作个例子。这是一只漂亮光滑的坚果，它靠着原先的能量，经受住了秋天暴风骤雨的百般考验。浑身见不到一处刺痕，找不到一丝弱点。这只坚果有那么多同胞都落在地上任人践踏，”他半开玩笑半当真地继续说道，“可是它仍然享有一只榛子果所能享受到的一切乐趣。”随即他又回复到先前的严肃口气，“对于我所关心的人们，我首先希望他们要坚定。如果路易莎·默斯格罗夫在晚年过得美满幸福，她将珍惜她目前的全部智能。”
他的话说完了，但是没有引起反响。假如路易莎能当即对这席话作出答复，安妮倒会感到惊讶。这席话是那样的富有兴趣，说得又是那样的严肃激动！她可以想象路易莎当时的心情。不过，她自己连动也不敢动，唯恐让他们发现。她呆在那里，一丛四处蔓延的矮冬青树掩护着她。他们继续往前走去，不过，还没等他们走到她听不见的地方，路易莎又开口了。
“从许多方面来看，玛丽都是挺温顺的，”她说。“但是，她有时又愚蠢又傲慢——埃利奥特家族的傲慢，真叫我恼火极了。她浑身上下都渗透着埃利奥特家族的傲慢。想当初查尔斯要是娶了安妮就好了。我想你知道他当时想娶安妮吧？”
歇了片刻，温特沃思上校说：
“你的意思是说她拒绝了他？”
“唔！是的，那还用说。”
“那是什么时候的事儿？”
“我了解得不确切，因为我和亨丽埃塔那时还在上学。不过我想大约在他同玛丽结婚一年之前。真可惜，安妮没有答应他。要是换上她，我们大家会喜欢多了。我父母亲总是认为，她之所以没有答应，是因为她的好朋友拉塞尔夫人从中作梗。他们认为，也许因为查尔斯缺乏教育，书读得少，不讨拉塞尔夫人喜欢，所以她就劝说安妮拒绝了查尔斯。”
说话声越来越弱，安妮再也听不清了。她心情过于激动，人仍然定在那里。不镇定下来是动弹不得的。俗话说偷听者永远听不到别人说自己的好话，然而她的情况又不完全如此：她没听见他们说自己的坏话，可是却听到了一大堆叫她感到十分伤心的话。她看出了温特沃思上校如何看待她的人格，纵观一下他的言谈举止，正是对于她的那种感情和好奇心才引起了她的极度不安。
她一镇定下来，就赶忙去找玛丽，找到后就同她一起回到树篱阶梯那儿，呆在她们原先的位置上。转眼间，大伙都聚齐了，又开始行动了，安妮才感到慰帖了一些。她精神上需要孤寂和安静，而这只有人多的时候才能得到。
查尔斯和亨丽埃塔回来了，一而且人们可以猜想得到，还带来了查尔斯·海特。事情的细节安妮无法推断；即使温特沃思上校，似乎也不能说是十分清楚。不过，男方有点退让，女方有点心软，两人现在十分高兴地重新聚在一起，这却是毋庸置疑的。亨丽埃塔看上去有点羞涩，但却十分愉快；而查尔斯·海特看上去则满面春风。几乎就从大伙朝厄泼克劳斯出发的那刻起，他俩便又变得情意绵绵起来。
现在一切情况都表明，路易莎属于温特沃思上校的了；这事再明显不过了。一路上，需要分开走也好，不需要分开走也罢，他们几乎就像那另外一对一样，尽量肩并肩地走在一起。当走到一条狭长的草地时，尽管地面较宽，大家可以一起并排走，他们还是明显地形成了三伙。不消说，安妮属于那最无生气、最不殷勤的三人一伙的。她同查尔斯和玛丽走在一起，只觉得有些疲劳，便十分高兴地
挽住查尔斯的另一只胳膊。不过，查尔斯尽管对她颇为和气，对他妻子却很恼火。原来，玛丽一直跟他过不去，现在落了个自食其果，惹得他不时甩掉她的胳臂，用手里的小棍拨开树篱中的荨麻花絮。这一来，玛丽便抱怨开了，为自己受到亏待而感到伤心，当然又是那老一套，说自己走在树篱这一边，安妮走在另一边敢情没有什么不舒服的，这时查尔斯索性把两人的手臂都抛开了，冲着一只一闪
而过的黄鼠狼追了过去，她们两个说什么也撵他不上。
挨着这块狭长的草地，有一条窄路，他们所走的小道的尽头就与这条窄路相交。他们早就听见了马车的声音，等他们来到草地的出口处，马车正好顺着同一方向驶过来，一看便知那是克罗夫特将军的双轮马车。他和妻子按照计划兜完了风，正在往回走。听说几位年轻人跑了这么远，他们好心好意地提出，哪位女士要是特别累了，就请坐到车子里；这样可以使她足足少走一英里路，因为马车要打厄泼克劳斯穿过。邀请是向众人发出的，也被众人谢绝了。两位默斯格罗夫小姐压根儿不累，玛丽或者因为没有得到优先邀请而感到生气，或者像路易莎所说的，那埃利奥特家族的傲慢使她无法容忍到那单马马车上做个第三者。
步行的人们穿过了窄路，正在攀越对面一道树篱的阶梯，将军也在策马继续赶路。这时温特沃思上校忽地跳过树篱，去跟他姐姐嘀咕了几句。这几句话的内容可以根据效果猜测出来。
“埃利奥特小姐，我想你一定是累了，”克罗夫特夫人大声说道。“请赏个脸，让我们把你带回家吧。你放心好了，这里绰绰有余能坐下三个人。假如我们都像你那样苗条的话，我看作兴还能坐下四个人呢。你一定要上来，真的，一定。”
安妮仍然站在小路上，她虽然本能地谢绝了，但是克罗夫特夫人不让她往前走。将军替妻子帮腔，慈祥地催促安妮快点上车，说什么也不许她拒绝。他们尽可能把身子挤在一起，给她腾出了个角落，温特沃思上校一声不吭地转向她，悄悄地把她扶进了车子。
是的，他这么做了。安妮坐进了车子，她觉得是他把她抱进去的，是他心甘情愿地伸手把她抱进去的。使她为之感激的是，他居然觉察她累了，而且决定让她歇息一下。他的这些举动表明了他对安妮的一番心意，使她大受感动。这件小事似乎为过去的事情带来了圆满的结局。她明白他的心意了。他不能宽恕她，但是又不能无情无义。虽然他责备她的过去，一想起来就满腹怨恨，以至达到不公正的地步；虽然他对她已经完全无所谓；虽然他已经爱上了另外一个人，但是他不能眼见着她受苦受累而不想帮她一把。这是以往感情的遗迹。这是友情的冲动，这种友情虽然得不到公开的承认，但却是纯洁的。这是他心地善良、和蔼可亲的明证，她一回想起来便心潮澎湃，她自己也不知道是喜是悲。
起先，她完全是无意识地回答了同伴的关照和议论。他们沿着崎岖的小路走到一半的光景，她才完全意识到他们的谈话内容。当时她发现，他们正在谈论“弗雷德里克”。
“他当然想娶那两位姑娘中的某一位啦，索菲，”将军说道。“不过说不上是哪一位。人们会觉得，他追求她们的时间够长了，该下决心了。唉，这都是和平带来的结果。假如现在是战争年代，他早就定下来了。埃利奥特小姐，我们水兵在战争年代是不允许长久谈情说爱的。亲爱的，从我头一次遇见你到与你在北亚茅斯寓所结为夫妻，这中间隔了多少天来着？”
“亲爱的，我们最好别谈这些，”克罗夫特夫人欢快地答道。“要是埃利奥特小姐听说我们这么快就定下了终身，她说什么也不肯相信我们在一起会是幸福的。不过，我当时对你早有了解。”
“而我早就听说你是个十分漂亮的姑娘，除此以外，我们还有什么好等的？我干这种事不喜欢拖拖拉拉的。我希望弗雷德里克加快点速度，把这两位年轻小姐中的哪一位带到凯林奇。这样一来，她们随时都有人作伴。她们两个都是非常可爱的年轻小姐，我简直看不出她们有什么差别。”
“确实是两个非常和悦、非常真挚的姑娘，”克罗夫特夫人带着比较平静的口气称赞说，安妮听了觉得有点可疑，说不定她那敏锐的头脑却认为她们哪一个也配不上她弟弟。“而且还有一个非常体面的家庭。你简直攀不上比她们更好的人家了。我亲爱的将军，那根柱子，我们非撞到那根柱子上不可。”
但是，她冷静地往旁边一拽缰绳，车子便侥幸地脱险了。后来还有一次，多亏她急中生智地一伸手，车子既没翻到沟里，也没有撞上粪车。安妮看到他们的赶车方式，不禁觉得有几分开心，她设想这一定很能反映他们是如何处理日常事务的。想着想着，马车不知不觉地来到了乡舍跟前，安妮安然无恙地下了车。
收听单词发音 |
1
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
guile
|
|
| n.诈术 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
dependence
|
|
| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
inconvenient
|
|
| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
dissuade
|
|
| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
lessening
|
|
| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
junction
|
|
| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
retract
|
|
| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
tawny
|
|
| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
withered
|
|
| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
poetical
|
|
| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
quotation
|
|
| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
quotations
|
|
| n.引用( quotation的名词复数 )；[商业]行情（报告）；（货物或股票的）市价；时价 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
sonnet
|
|
| n.十四行诗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
fraught
|
|
| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ascent
|
|
| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
counteracting
|
|
| 对抗，抵消( counteract的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
hemmed
|
|
| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
resolutely
|
|
| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
consultations
|
|
| n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
assenting
|
|
| 同意，赞成( assent的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
gleaning
|
|
| n.拾落穗，拾遗，落穗v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的现在分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
complaisance
|
|
| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
woe
|
|
| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
fortitude
|
|
| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
durable
|
|
| adj.持久的，耐久的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bough
|
|
| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
glossy
|
|
| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
puncture
|
|
| n.刺孔，穿孔；v.刺穿，刺破 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
rambling
|
|
| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
holly
|
|
| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
conjectured
|
|
| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
minutiae
|
|
| n.微小的细节，细枝末节；（常复数）细节，小事( minutia的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
animation
|
|
| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
nettles
|
|
| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
lament
|
|
| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
footpath
|
|
| n.小路，人行道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
surmounting
|
|
| 战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
instinctively
|
|
| adv.本能地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
condemning
|
|
| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
contemplate
|
|
| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
lodgings
|
|
| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
canvass
|
|
| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
reins
|
|
| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
judiciously
|
|
| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |