Persuasion

he Admiral's fraternal kindness as of his wife's. He had intended, on first arriving, to proceed very soon into Shrop

on there; the old were so hospitable, the young so agreeable, that he could not but resolve to remai

n he had no companion at home, for the Admiral and Mrs Croft were generally out of doors together, interesting themselves in their new possessions, th

arying, warm admiration everywhere; but this intimate footing was not more than established, when a certain Charles

Wentworth's introduction. He was in orders; and having a curacy in the neighbourhood, where residence was not required, lived at his father's house, only two miles from Uppercross. A short abs

th Mr Musgrove's; and while the Musgroves were in the first class of society in the country, the young Hayters would, from their parents' inferior, retired, and unpolished way of living, and their own defective education, have

superiority in the Miss Musgroves, as made them pleased to improve their cousins. Charles's attentions to Henrietta had been observed by her fathe

Captain Wentworth came; but from that time

e's observation reached. Henrietta was perhaps the prettiest, Louisa had the higher spirits; and she

tude or remark about them in the Mansion-house; but it was different at the Cottage: the young couple there were more disposed to speculate and wonder; and Captain Wentworth had not been above four or five times in the Miss Musgroves' company, and Charles Hay

than twenty thousand pounds by the war. Here was a fortune at once; besides which, there would be the chance of what might be done in any future war; and he

Wentworth' sounds very well. That would be a noble thing, indeed, for Henrietta! She would take place of me then, and Henrietta would n

she wished to see put an end to. She looked down very decidedly upon the Hayters, and thought it would be quite

lf away. I do not think any young woman has a right to make a choice that may be disagreeable and inconvenient to the principal part of her family, and be giving bad co

esides having a regard for his cousin, Charles Hayter was

state at Winthrop is not less than two hundred and fifty acres, besides the farm near Taunton, which is some of the best land in the country. I grant you, that any of them but Charles would be a very shocking match for Henrietta, and indeed it could not be; he is the only one that could be possible; but he is a very good-natured, good sort of a fellow; and wh

y soon put him quite out of her head, and I have very little doubt that he has. She took hardly any notice of Charles Hayter yesterday. I wish you had been there to see her behaviour. And as to Captain Wentworth's liking Louisa as well as Henrietta, it is nonsense to say so

e, under the mixed plea of a headache of her own, and some return of indisposition in little Charles. She had thought only of

Henrietta to Louisa, or Louisa to Henrietta. Either of them would, in all probability, make him an affectionate, good-humoured wife. With regard to Charles Hayter, she had delicacy which must be pained by any lightness of

of Uppercross instead. It had then seemed the object nearest her heart, that Dr Shirley, the rector, who for more than forty years had been zealously discharging all the duties of his office, but was now growing too infirm for many of them, should be quite fixed on engaging a curate; should make his curacy quite as good as he could afford, and should give Charles Hayter the promise of it. The advantage of his having to come only to Uppercross, instead of going six miles another way; of his having, in every respect, a better curacy; of his belonging to their dear Dr Shirley, a

s thought you sure. It did not appear to me that--in short, you know, Dr Shir

been present, Captain Wentworth walked into the drawing-room at the Cottage, w

re: he started, and could only say, "I thought the Miss Musgroves had been here: Mrs Musgrove told me I sh

, in all the confusion that was natural; and if the child had not called her to come and do something for

calmly and politely saying, "I hope

heard some other person crossing the little vestibule. She hoped, on turning her head, to see the master of the house; but it proved to be one much less calculated

o you do? Will you not sit down?

versation; but Charles Hayter soon put an end to his attempts by seating himself near

having got the door opened for him by some one without, made his determined appearance among them, and went s

f upon her, as she knelt, in such a way that, busy as she was about Charles, she could not shake him off. She spoke to him, ordered, entreate

s moment. You are extremely troub

do as you are bid? Do not you hear your aunt spe

bit did Wa

g him from her, though he had bent down her head so much, that his little sturdy hands were unfastened fr

a confusion of varying, but very painful agitation, as she could not recover from, till enabled by the entrance of Mary and the Miss Musgroves to make over her little patient to their cares, and leave the room. She could not stay. It might have been an opportunity of watching the loves and jealousies of the four--they were now altogether; but she could stay for none of it. It was evident that Charles Hayter was not well inclined towards Captain Wentworth. She had a strong impression of his having said, in a vext tone of voice,