Persuasion

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 thi

them all what they were about, and of pointing out some of the evils they were exposing themselves to. She did not attribute guile to any. It was the highest satisfaction to her to believe Captain Wentworth not in the least aware of the pain he was occ

; 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

ne a-shooting together, as the sisters in the Cottage were sitting quietly a

, 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 precisely 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 tog

s. "Everybody is always supposing that I am not a good walker; and yet they would not have been pleased,

e, exactly ready for this walk, and they entered into it with pleasure. Could Anne have foreseen such a junction, she would have staid at home; but, from some feelings of interest and curiosity

uliar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness, that season which had drawn from every poet, worthy 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 quotations; 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

m from some of these hills. They talked of coming into this side of the country. I wonder whereabouts they will upset to-da

same in her place. If I loved a man, as she loves the Admiral, I would always be with him, nothing

ken with e

tone; "I honour you!" And there was s

t 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

hrough large enclosures, where the ploughs at work, and the fresh made path spoke the farmer counteracting the sweets of poetical despondence, and meaning to have spring again, t

ched before them; an indifferent house, standing low, a

I declare I had no idea! Well now, I think we

g against any gate, was ready to do as Mary wished; but "No!" said Charles Musgrove, and "No, no

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 r

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

exions! But, I assure you, I have never

nting smile, followed by a contemptuous glance, as he

joining 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

d her, as if making their way back along the rough, wild sort of channel, down the centre. They were speaking as they drew nea

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 u

turned back th

d. I am almost a

ter is an amiable 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 durable; everybody may sway it. Let those who would be happy be firm. Here is a nut," said he, catching one down from an upper bough, "to exemplify: a beautiful glossy nut, which,

ken with such serious warmth! She could imagine what Louisa was feeling. For herself, she feared to move, lest she should be seen. While she r

ively, by her nonsense and pride--the Elliot pride. She has a great deal too much of the Elliot pri

pause, Captain

n that she

s; cert

id that

d 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 d

er'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 charact

ation, by the stile, felt some comfort in their whole party being immediately afterwards collected, and

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. H

sted least animation, 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

ig. 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 kindly offered a seat to any lady who might be particularly tired; it would save her a full mile, and they were going through Up

Admiral was putting his horse in motion again, when Captain Wentworth cleared the hedge

leasure of taking you home. Here is excellent room for three, I assure you. If

cy came in support of his wife's; they would not be refused; they compressed themselves into the smallest possible space to leave h

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 condemning her for the past, and considering it with high and unjust resentment, though perfectly careless of her, and though becoming attached to another, still he could no

nsciously given. They had travelled half their way along the rough lane, before

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

s Elliot were to hear how soon we came to an understanding, she would never be persuad

so long in hand. I wish Frederick would spread a little more canvass, and bring us home one of these young ladies to Kellync

t that her keener powers might not consider either of them as quite worthy of her brother; "and a very respectable f

out her hand they neither fell into a rut, nor ran foul of a dung-cart; and Anne, with some amusement at their style of driving, whic