CHAPTER I
Posted on March 11, 2009
Mr. Charles Musgrove of Uppercross, Somersetshire, and his wife Henrietta was blessed with many children and since Mr. Musgrove had early come into his heritage they had no particular worry over money, and their joy could only increase with every child they brought in to the world. After the birth of two sons, Charles and Richard, they had almost given up the prospect of having daughters, and especially the father longed for a little girl with the liking of her mother, but not too many years went by before Mrs. Musgrove gave birth to two little girls within one year and a half. The eldest was christened Henrietta after her mother, and the younger was given the name Louisa in remembrance of her grand-mother.The two girls grew up side by side, and as the years went by everything that their parents had hoped for regarding their beauty, wit and intelligence seemed to come true. Louisa was always the lively one, and even if she was a year younger than her sister she soon began to grow quite as tall as her. Henrietta was a calm, steady little girl with large hazel eyes and dark curls, and she often had a hard time catching up with Louisa when she was running around, her golden curls constantly entangled. Mr. Musgrove loved to sit in the garden, watching his two little girls playing around. Louisa, he often thought, looked just like her mother must have done when she was a little girl even if it was perhaps Henrietta that in temper was most like their mother. He took great joy in seeing how well his two daughters got along. There could hardly have been two sisters more caring for each other, even at a tender age, at least not in the county of Somerset.
The Musgrove family was highly respected and they had a large enough fortune to live a very comfortable life, even if some economy was in need, especially taken in account that the family steadily kept on growing. They had a large acquaintance and dined regularly with a number of families in the neighbourhood but did not allow themselves with the extravagance of a house in town, like many others, but preferred life in the country.
Mrs. Musgrove had a younger sister. They had each had money, but their marriages had made a material difference in their degree of consequence. Mr. Hayter had some property of his own, but it was insignificant compared to 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 been hardly in any class at all, but for their connexion with Uppercross.
The two families were on excellent terms, there being no pride on one side, and no envy on the other, and only such a consciousness of superiority in the Miss Musgroves, as made them pleased to improve their cousins. Mr. and Mrs. Hayter's home was Winthrop, located in a neighbouring parish only a few miles from Uppercross, and the families often met. The eldest son in the family, a boy also named Charles was the same age as Richard, and was often a guest at Uppercross to play with his cousins.
Mrs. Musgrove often brought her little girls when she called on her acquaintances. Since she loved to have children about her, both her own and everybody else's, she had absolutely no notion that not everyone shared her feelings on the subject. Henrietta and Louisa were quite well-behaved, but even the calmest child cannot be expected to sit still for over half-an-hour in a drawing-room while the mother is exchanging the latest gossip, and there were for sure some ladies in the neighbourhood that dreaded visits from Mrs. Musgrove on account of her daughters, and truly looked forward till the day they would be sent off to school.
CHAPTER II
One of these neighbours was Lady Russell of Kellynch Lodge, who had no children of her own, and was quite happy she had not, after every visit from the Musgrove ladies. She often discussed it with her dear friend Lady Elliot, who resided at Kellynch Hall, and rejoiced in the fact that Lady Elliott's daughters, was so much better behaved than the Musgrove girls."But my dear Lady Russell," Lady Elliott answered "how can you expect little Henrietta and Louisa to be as well behaved as my girls. Henrietta is three years younger than Mary and Louisa is even younger."
"Yes, and Mary stays at home in the nursery where she belongs!" said Lady Russell, and since Lady Elliott could not completely disagree with her friend she chose not to continue the discussion any further, even if she found the little girls charming and sweet and gladly welcomed them to Kellynch.
The kind and good-natured Lady Elliott was a favourite with Henrietta and Louisa, and they were in fact very much quieter when they visited her than when calling on Lady Russell, who seemed to bring out the worst in them. Lady Elliott was an elegant and calm lady with a warm voice, and she had that special ability that some people possess of making those around her feel comfortable.
Unfortunately faith would have it that Lady Elliott passed away quite young, and the little Miss Musgroves for the first time in their young life learnt the sad lesson of losing someone for whom they cared. Even though they were very young and had only spent a short time every other week in Lady Elliott's company they missed her greatly, as did the whole neighbourhood.
The impact of Lady Elliott's death was even greater, though, for her own three daughters; Miss Elliott took her mothers place at the tender years of sixteen, and the younger girls were both sent off to school to spend only their holidays in the country. Henrietta and Louisa by this lost not only the mother but also the second daughter Anne, who even if she was seven or eight years their senior always had had time to play with them when they met. They missed her greatly and were always happy when she could visit them.
Miss Anne Elliott was a pretty young girl, much resembling her mother both in looks and in temper, and this recommended her to the sisters who looked upon her as one of their dearest friends when they grew up.
CHAPTER III
The Musgrove family continued to grow, and soon the house was full of children of different ages. Had it not been for the ever so cheerful nursery maid Sarah, Mrs. Musgrove could hardly have had time to be a good mother to them all. Especially since her second eldest son was giving them all a lot of trouble. The fact that Richard was lazy and had no inclination for learning was in it self a great concern. As the second son he would have to earn his living some day, since all property and most of the family's fortune would eventually go to Charles, but what line of profession could be suitable for a boy that did not even think it worth his while to learn how to read and write properly? Even worse though, was the fact that he at a tender age started to show signs of cruelty towards his younger siblings. He struck his sisters and destroyed the little boys' favourite toys, in a way that cannot on any account be defended. Richards parents were troubled, to say the least.Shortly after Richard had reached the age of twelve Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove went to a dinner party with the Poole family, as they did regularly. There they were introduced to an addition to the neighbourhood, a Mr. Wentworth, the young curate of Monkford. He turned out to be a very amiable young man, who took great pleasure in conversation. After dinner, as they took their tea in the drawing-room, he gave Mrs. Musgrove and a few others of the attending ladies an account of his family. He had an older sister and a younger brother, with whom he were very close even if their situations in life had parted them for the time being.
"My sister, Mrs. Croft" he said, "is married to a captain in the royal navy. It is a very good sort of fellow, and I should think that he will be very successful ere long."
"In the navy! How exciting!" cried Mrs. Poole. "And pray, have they been married for long?"
"Well, about five years" he replied.
"And your brother, Mr. Wentworth, is he clergyman to?" asked Mrs. Musgrove.
"No, no, not Frederick!" cried he. "The clergy would never do for him. He is in the navy just as our brother Croft. He is a lieutenant still, but he should soon rise to commander."
Mrs. Musgrove who always was interested in the people she met asked: "Why should you say that the clergy would not do for your brother, if you do not mind my asking?"
"Oh, the difference in our tempers, Mrs. Musgrove, nothing else" he answered with a smile. "Frederick has always preferred the outdoors, and I suppose: the rough sea over the quietness of a sparkling fire."
At their way home Mrs. Musgrove related the conversation with the young curate to her husband, especially what he had said about the differing temper that could enjoy the sea over the quietness at home.
"Perhaps" she said, "Richard would benefit from not being at home. Benefit from a change. He is clearly not happy where he is, and makes everyone around him even more miserable."
"It is a fine thought, my dear" Mr. Musgrove replied. "But I have no particular connections in the navy, which could be of assistance in promoting his career. I would be much easier for me to do so if he went into the law. I hardly know what arrangements have to be made when sending a boy out to sea."
"Could you not make some inquiries?" Mrs. Musgrove asked. "We must do something, and I really do not think that he is really cut out for the law."
"I shall, Mrs. Musgrove, I shall" promised her husband.
Mr. Musgrove made his inquiries and found that an old friend of his was actually married to an admiral's sister, and through this friend he was able to get some information about both life at sea, and what could be done to get Richard accepted as a midshipman. Life at sea seemed very rough and unsafe for a young boy, and he had rather seen that Richard could have another profession, but what was to be done? The law was apparently out of the question, and the thought of Dick Musgrove as a clergyman seemed almost as blasphemy.
When suggesting the navy as a future career to Richard himself, he got little or no response, but with the support of his wife and his eldest son he soon decided it must be, and within a few months all the necessary preparations was done. Richard was to leave Uppercross for Portsmouth from where he would start off his new life. His father and older brother escorted him there, but his mother and younger sisters took their leave an early spring morning at Uppercross, the home Richard had never seemed to enjoy, and which he might not see again for many years to come. Mrs. Musgrove shed her tears and almost regretted their decision to send him off, charged her son to write her as often as he could even if her hopes on that account were very low.
With Richard gone, Uppercross became decidedly quieter, and it did not take long before they seemed to have completely forgotten about him. He only wrote two letters in several years, except hasty notes where he asked his parents to send money, which could hardly count as letters. All seemed to have worked out for the best, even for the family's black sheep.
The cold winter's day, eight years later, which brought a letter from a Captain Marriot, informing Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove of their son's death, could on the other hand not be too soon forgotten. The agony of losing a child, even if it was a child like Richard, struck them deeply and the fact that they had more or less forced him to go gave them all the extra heartache that they could deserve. They suffered deeply for many days, but took comfort in the children that were alive and soon, probably sooner than it should, the grief was a mere memory.
CHAPTER IV
The family had continued to grow, and the nursery was housing many young children, more than the mother and Sarah could handle even with Richard gone. Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove thought it therefore best to send Henrietta and Louisa away to a school in Exeter which had been recommended to them by some good friends in the neighbourhood. It was one of these old-fashioned boarding-schools that gave young ladies a reasonable quantity of accomplishments for a reasonable price.The years at school were a joyful time for Henrietta and Louisa, when they had adjusted to their new situation and stopped longing for their family. They had no trouble in making friends and besides, they always had each other which were at times a great comfort for both of them. They adopted all the usual accomplishments, and learned how to behave as proper, elegant young ladies.
On the holidays they were glad to return to Uppercross and spend time with their large family, and accompany their mothers on visits just as they had done as little girls.
When Henrietta had reached the age of about fourteen, she and Louisa, to not even mention the parents, was very glad to see that their eldest brother Charles seemed to become attached to Miss Anne from Kellynch hall. She was just the kind of young lady whom they could wish to have as a sister and the whole family welcomed her to Uppercross as often as they could.
Unfortunately, perhaps, Miss Anne was often accompanied by her good friend and godmother Lady Russell, who did not seem to care much for either Uppercross or for the Musgrove family. Lady Russell was thought to have a great deal of influence over her young friend and was always met with perfect civility on Mrs. Musgrove's part. One uncommonly fine day in the early spring the older ladies were having tea in the arbour as the younger Musgrove children played on the lawn and Charles had taken Anne for a walk in the park.
Mrs. Musgrove was talking about her children, as she almost always did, and Lady Russell who had no children of her own talked about the excellence of her god-daughter Anne. Mrs. Musgrove could readily agree with her on that subject.
"Yes, Miss Anne is a sweet girl" she said. "We are always glad to have her here, and always sad that she has to leave us so soon. Henrietta and Louisa thinks of her quite as an older sister, I think. And she reminds me so of the dear Lady Elliot."
Lady Russell smiled, but made no answer.
"I hope that Miss Anne might be prevailed upon to make an extended visit here at some time or another" Mrs. Musgrove continued. "When the girls go back to school the house is so empty, so we could certainly need to be cheered up. Especially Charles. He is quite lonely, you know, without any siblings of his own age."
"But perhaps he will soon meet a suitable young woman" said Lady Russell.
"Yes, I should think that he is old enough, and we could easily set up a house for him" Mrs. Musgrove said. "I do not think it is a very good idea to live two families under the same roof as my poor sister Hayter had to do when she was just married."
"No, I completely agree with you Mrs. Musgrove" Lady Russell replied.
"But there I see Charles and Miss Anne again" cried Mrs. Musgrove. "They were certainly away for a long time."
Mr. Charles Musgrove and Miss Anne Elliott was indeed coming towards them, looking much more sombre than Mrs. Musgrove had hoped. She glanced at Lady Russell but she did not betray any emotions of her own when seeing her young friends' slight blush. Charles excused himself ere long, and Anne seemed as if she did not wish to stay, so subsequently Lady Russell took her leave after finishing her tea and the ladies returned to Kellynch.
Later that day Charles confided in his mother and related what had happened between him and Miss Anne. He had given her an offer of marriage, which they had all expected, but she had refused him.
"She said she cannot marry me, since she only can love me as a sister loves a brother and not as a wife should love a husband. What say you of that mother" he said.
"Oh, these young people and their idea of love" she sighed. "I am very sorry for you Charles; it would have been an excellent match. Perhaps it is not totally impossible? Perhaps she was just surprised and did not know what to say. She could hardly do any better, you know."
"I do not think so mama," replied he. "She seemed quite convinced, and it does not feel so gentlemanlike to try to persuade her against her will."
With that he went away and never spoke to his mother on the subject again. She could have had even more to say than she had done since she was convinced that it was not Miss Anne's own doing completely. Lady Russell was no favourite with her, and she was certain that the lady in question would not look upon a union between her young protégé and Mr. Charles Musgrove of Uppercross with any good will. He was perhaps not bookish enough to suit Lady Russell.
CHAPTER V
Charles was hurt by the refusal, but liked Miss Anne so well that he soon found it better to be good friends than to lament over what could have been. It had hardly been any ardent love of his but more a matter of convenience. The daughter of Sir William would have been an excellent match for him, and he had thought that Miss Anne would have made him a good wife and companion.After some time, though, he turned his eyes towards the youngest of the Elliot sisters, Mary, instead. She was a good-humoured young woman, eighteen or nineteen years old, perhaps not as handsome as her older sisters but more easygoing and cheerful. He enjoyed her company and she seemed to like his.
We should not lament too much of what can happen between a young man and a young woman who appreciate each others company but only say that after dancing together at a proper number of balls and after exchanging a proper amount of niceties Charles made Mary an offer of marriage which she gladly received and accepted. Her happiness was hardly lessened by the fact that she was married long before any of her older sisters.
Charles' family was of course happy when they heard the news, and Mr. Musgrove immediately began improvements on a farm-house in order to turn it into a cottage for his son's future residence, only a quarter of a mile away from the mansion. If anyone was thinking that Charles would have been better off with the other sister, they did not speak of it and Mary did not even know about his earlier proposal.
The young couple was married and settled down at Uppercross cottage. Living so close by the great house, Charles and Mary were naturally spending a lot of time together with the rest of the family. Hardly any morning went by without them meeting, and hardly any evening passed away without them spending it together, but on more than one occasion it seemed as if both the young couple and the elder one was happy not to share their house with each other.
CHAPTER VI
With Charles settled Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove thought it to be the right time for both Henrietta and Louisa to quit school and be introduced into society. They were so close in years and such good friends that it seemed only right to let them come out together. The fact that they had no longer just a mother to chaperone them but also a sister-in-law, who could share this task made it an easy decision.Charles and Mary had not been home for more than a few weeks when Mrs. Musgrove began to send out invitations for a ball to be held at Uppercross, where the girls were going to be presented. Their whole acquaintance in the neighbourhood was of course invited, including their cousins from Winthrop.
The two girls made their preparations for their first ball with much felicity. They had both learned to dance at school and had often been praised by their master, so they were not nervous on that account, but there were many of the young people who were going to come, that they had hardly seen since they left for school and since they were now unaccustomed to company they were a bit nervous on that account.
The family, including Charles and Mary, gathered for an early dinner before the guests were expected. When Henrietta and Louisa entered the dining-parlour Mr. Musgrove walked up to them, praised their dress and offered one arm to each of them to escort them to the table.
"I hope you are in high spirits tonight," he said; "it is a pleasure to see you both look so well."
The girls thanked him and assured him how much they looked forward to the ball, and took their regular seats at the table. Nobody overheard Mary's whispered remark to Charles: "Such fuss! I do not recall that I or any of my sisters were so put forward just because we were coming out, and my father is a baronet."
"Father is just proud," responded he; "it is the first time he gets to introduce a daughter in society, you know."
The first guests to arrive were the Hayter family. They were most cordially received, and the two families had much to say to each other since they had not met since the wedding. The eldest son, Charles Hayter, had been away even longer since he a few years back had begun his studies at Oxford. His studies was to earn him a career in the clergy, or so were his hopes at least, and he had not seen Henrietta or Louisa in a few years. Not only his studies but also social obligations had kept him away from the neighbourhood almost constantly for some time. On entering the drawing-room he was struck by the apparition of his young cousin Henrietta, who he remembered as a pretty looking little girl with big dark eyes, but now she stood before him as a grown young woman with dark curls and hazel eyes. Both of the girls wore white gowns, which was especially becoming on Henrietta with her darker colours. Hardly knowing where to look, he kissed his hand, saying:
"How do you do, Miss Musgrove."
"Cousin Charles! How good to see you again!" she cried; "but when did I become Miss Musgrove? You have never called me that before."
"You are no longer a little girl, cousin," he replied; "and I did not think it proper to call you by your Christian name without your permission, but if you prefer that I do, I certainly shall."
"Of course I do, but perhaps you would like me to call you Mr. Hayter?" said she with a smile.
"Oh, I do not think that would be wise," he said; "there might be some risk of confusing me with my father if you did."
"I do not think so, Mr. Hayter," she continued; "since I call your father 'Uncle'." With this she gave him yet another smile and went to greet his parents. He recollected himself and turned to Louisa who had stood just beside them and observed their intercourse, with amusement.
"Cousin Charles," said she; "how lovely to see you again."
"And you to, dear cousin," he answered and kissed her hand; "you look very lovely this evening, if I am permitted to say so."
"Why, thank you," she said with a smile. She could see that he was again looking in the direction of Henrietta. "I hope you have been well?" she asked.
He turned his head and looked at her with confusion written over his face. "Oh, yes!" he said; "Please excuse me, cousin." And with that he left her to stand by his mother who was conversing Henrietta.
Family after family now made their entrance and Louisa was soon surrounded by old acquaintances that she had seen but little during her years at school. She was amazed over how changed many of them were. The little boys that had been playing around on the lawn with her brothers had turned into young men, and others that she remembered as little girls had become elegant young ladies. She enjoyed the company of these young people, and realized that the winter in the country might not be as dull as she had feared it would be.
Suddenly the crowd closest to the door silenced and the butler announced: "Sir Walter, Lady Russell, Miss Elliot and Miss Anne Elliott!"
Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove hurried to greet the newly arrived, as did Charles and Mary, but hardly no one else moved. Soon Louisa realized that she and Henrietta had to do the same as their parents and she therefore looked around only to see Henrietta standing a little bit away from the others together with none other than Charles Hayter. She went over to them and said: "Henrietta, I think we must go and greet Sir William and Lady Russell."
Henrietta turned around, and Louisa could see that her cheeks were blushing.
"Oh, of course!" she cried, and hurried off at such speed that Louisa could hardly follow her.
Mr. Musgrove proudly introduced his now grown up daughters to Sir William, who consented to give them both a slight bow which they returned with as deep curtseys as they could. Lady Russell greeted them as well and pointed out how transformed they were since they were little. Miss Elliot only gave them a short nod, but when these three had moved further into the room they were instead met with Miss Anne's gentle smile and handshake.
"How lovely to see you," she said; "you both look wonderful. And how you have grown since I last saw you!"
"Oh, Anne!" cried Louisa. "We have missed you so. I hope we shall see much of you here at Uppercross this winter."
"I hope so to," Anne replied. "Now that Mary is settled here I shall never lack a reason to come, even if I hardly ever did before either."
CHAPTER VII
The dancing begun and Louisa was not surprised to find her Cousin Charles claiming Henrietta's hand. Nor was she surprised to find that he asked her to dance once again just before supper was to be served, so that he also had the opportunity to escort her to the table. They seemed to get along remarkably well together but since Louisa was very well entertained herself by the numerous young men with whom she danced, she did not give them much attention.At supper Mary was, by an unfortunate fate, seated close to Mrs. Hayter whom she did not like and whom she thought was far beneath herself in consequence. Mary was in fact not at all content with having relations which lacked both fortune and titles, and therefore she always tried to avoid conversing with them. Mrs. Hayter had, just as Louisa, observed the particular interest which her son seemed to take in Henrietta and as she was quite unaware of Mary's hostility towards her entire family she wanted to discuss it with her.
"I cannot see, Mrs. Hayter, that Henrietta seems so very pleased with the attention," she said.
Mrs. Hayter glanced to her right side where she a bit further down at the table clearly could see Henrietta's smiles towards Charles and turned to Mary again to protest only to find that Mary had turned her attention towards Lady Russell instead. A more sensitive person might have been offended but as Mrs. Hayter was a practical woman she just shrugged her shoulders and turned to her other side as well.
The ball was a great success and it would take up too much of the gentle readers' time to relate everything that happened I shall only state that many dances were danced, many conversations were had, many were offended by Miss Elliot's condescending refusals to dance and many feet were aching the next morning.
The next day Henrietta and Louisa took a walk in the garden to discuss the successful event. Louisa was most anxious to hear about what had passed between Henrietta and Charles Hayter, but Henrietta refused to acknowledge that anything had passed at all.
"Do not be so silly, Louisa," she said; "there is nothing to talk about. Cousin Charles was merely being polite and had a lot of questions about the years we have been away."
"If, you say so my sweet" Louisa replied. "But it does strike me a bit odd, since he was not half so attentive to me, or interested in what I had been doing, and I have been away just as long as you have."
"He only looks upon me as his little cousin" Henrietta said, and turned her head away.
"If you insist, my dear sister." Louisa dropped the subject, but suspected that Henrietta had not been completely honest about her feelings towards their cousin. It was perhaps not a great match, but Charles Hayter was a fine young man and furthermore, he was the oldest son and would inherit a pretty estate some time in the future. But they were still young and it would be at least two years before Charles could hold a living and support a wife, so perhaps it was for the best if Henrietta did not care for him.
After their coming out, the Miss Musgroves took their rightful place in the upper circle of the neighbourhood. Both they and their parents enjoyed entertaining and often had guests for dinner. If no one else were to be expected they often invited some of their cousins. Two of the Miss Hayters were now grown up as well and the cousins were good friends, and the differences in their way of life did not much effect their friendship.
In a small neighbourhood such as theirs the social life were quite suppressed and especially Louisa began after some time to long to make some new acquaintances. She had not yet met any young man who had awakened any particular interest with her, and she tried quite hard to persuade her father to take them to Bath or perhaps even to London.
"Oh, I hope that we shall be in Bath this winter!" she often exclaimed when she had heard any of their acquaintance discussing a trip there with her mother, but it was in vain. Mr. Musgrove preferred to stay at home with the exception of his attending the assizes, Mrs. Musgrove who still had one of her children, little Henry, at home were of the same opinion.
CHAPTER VIII
Shortly after he turned five and twenty, Charles Hayter, was ordained and given a curacy in the neighbourhood. He was not required to live there, so instead he returned to his father's house, back to the close vicinity of Uppercross, and became a regular visitor there. He was on a good footing with the whole family and often came to shoot with his cousin and uncle, but it soon became apparent to most of the family members that he held Henrietta in a particular regard. He often sought her company, which she had no objection to, and paid her any attention possible. Charles's attentions to Henrietta were observed by her father and mother without any disapprobation. "It would not be a great match for her; but if Henrietta liked him, -- and Henrietta did seem to like him." The only one in the family who did not approve was Mary, who strongly resented the Hayters, and did not think that Henrietta had any right to throw herself away on such a suitor, and to create such an alliance. Charles tried his best to point out the positive aspects on the match to his wife, but she had no intentions at all to listen to her or to be persuaded to think any different.Although he had a curacy, his income was not nearly enough for him to be able to marry yet, which was probably his biggest reason for not proposing to Henrietta. He was seeking a better employment, and preferably in the close vicinity to Uppercross. Often did he on that account call on the rector of Uppercross parsonage, who was an elderly man that might soon retire and be in need of a curate to take care of the parishioners. The rector, Dr. Shirley, liked the young man and began to realize himself that he began to grow too old to fulfil his duties.
Both Henrietta and Louisa were happy about the idea of Charles Hayter being the curate of Uppercross. Henrietta was happy since it would mean that she would see more of him and she enjoyed his company above all others. Louisa on the other hand was happy, since she thought that it would mean that her sister would not be removed from her daily company when married to their cousin. A marriage she was sure would take place as soon as he had the means to provide for a family.
Dr. Shirley was not, though Charles Hayter's only hope of a better situation. He was acquainted with a family, the Spicers, who had the patronage of a few livings. Charles had gotten to know one of the sons in the family at university, and he sometimes visited their home in Devonshire.
CHAPTER IX
Posted on March 16, 2009
In the late summer of 1814 an extraordinary piece of news struck the neighbourhood. The Elliot family was to leave Kellynch hall and let it to an Admiral Croft and his wife. They were instead to take up their residence in Bath, and were not to return to the country in any foreseeable future. Almost everybody had suspected for some time that Sir Walter lived over his assets, but no one had thought even for at moment that he would be forced to let Kellynch hall in order to repair his finances. He was not very well liked in the neighbourhood and was not likely to be missed by many and hardly by the Musgroves even if they were related through Charles' and Mary's marriage.Instead the greatest excitement was to have a new family in the neighbourhood, and the speculations about Admiral and Mrs. Croft were the chief subject of the morning visits for several weeks.
The Crofts were to take possession at Michaelmas, but Sir Walter and Miss Elliot left the country in late July to take up residence in Bath. The only one who would be really missed by the Musgroves, Miss Anne, was to their great joy remain in the country for the fall. She would first stay with Lady Russell, and then come to Uppercross Cottage as a companion to Mary. Mary was not feeling well during the summer heat and predicted that she would not have a single day of good health the entire fall and had therefore declared that she could not possibly do without Anne, who had agreed to come. Miss Anne was always a welcome addition to the circle at Uppercross, and since they believed that she liked them just as well as they liked her, the whole family looked forward to her coming.
On the morning of the day Miss Anne Elliot was expected Mrs. Musgrove and her daughters were discussing whether or not they should call at Uppercross Cottage to greet her in course of the morning, or if it would be more appropriate to wait until the next day.
"Perhaps Mrs. Charles will want her guest to be settled first" Mrs. Musgrove said; "she looked a bit tired yesterday as well."
"I think you might be right, mother" Louisa said; "it is probably best to wait. Perhaps we can call just for a few minutes after dinner this evening."
She had hardly had time to finish her sentence before Mary accompanied by her sister entered the room. The three ladies were most happy to see them and received them with great cordiality. They had much to say, since they had not seen Miss Anne for several weeks. She explained her absence with having a great many things to do regarding her fathers house, like making a duplicate of the catalogue of her father's books and pictures, overseeing the gardener in his attempts to understand which of Miss Elliot's plants should be turned over to the care of Lady Russell and even more. She was immediately forgiven since she was now with them and would be so for at least two months. Half-an-hour was chatted away pleasant enough and at the end of it Mary declared that she and her sister was going for a walk and invited Henrietta and Louisa to join them, which they gladly did.
CHAPTER X
The very next evening the company from Uppercross Cottage joined the family up at the great house for dinner, and Anne proved as always to be a great addition to their family circle. She was always kind and friendly to all of them, and received with great politeness the remark from Mr. Musgrove: "So, Miss Anne, Sir Walter and your sister are gone; and what part of Bath do you think they will settle in?" even if she only minutes before had received an almost identical remark from his wife."I hope we shall be in Bath in the winter!" Louisa cried; "but remember, papa, if we do go, we must be in a good situation: none of your Queen-squares for us!"
Before anyone had had time to answer her Mary said: "Upon my word, I shall be pretty well off, when you are all gone away to be happy at Bath!"
As luck had it, Charles knew his wife well and instead of continuing the discussion of Bath related to the whole company how many pheasants he and Mr. Musgrove had shot in the morning, which soon drew the attention towards hunting, long walks and the joys of the country in the autumn and by this turn of conversation the evening could end just as gaily as it had started.
One morning Mary was obligated to stay at home to discuss some matters with her housekeeper, so Miss Anne accompanied the Miss Musgroves on their morning walk. They were eager to get information from her about her fathers tenants, but there was not much that she could relate.
"He is a rear admiral of the white, and was in the Trafalgar action, but has been stationed in the East Indies for several years I believe" she said. "Mr. Shepherd spoke of him as a true gentleman, and my father was pleased with his appearance as well" she continued; "but I have never met him. I was at Kellynch Lodge when he and Mrs. Croft visited Kellynch."
"Oh, I can never keep those navy ranks apart" Louisa cried; "they are so many, and if one is acquainted with a person the rank does not feel so important any longer any way."
"I agree with you completely" Anne said; "but it is important to many a person, and in a profession such as the navy different ranks are not only a mark of different social standings but also of responsibility and ability."
"Yes, rank is more important when it comes to the navy or the militia, of course," Louisa continued; "but what I really dislike is when people look down on others not because they are less informed or educated but only because they are in a different place in society."
"Or, when people are looked up to only because of their superiority of rank you mean?"
"That is exactly what I mean."
Henrietta, who had been quiet and seemingly occupied by her own thoughts during the discussion suddenly said to Anne: "I have no scruple of observing to you, how nonsensical some persons are about their place, because all the world knows how easy and indifferent you are about it; but I wish anybody could give Mary a hint that it would be a great deal better if she were not so very tenacious, especially if she would not be always putting herself forward to take place of mamma. Nobody doubts her right to have precedence of mamma, but it would be more becoming in her not to be always insisting on it. It is not that mamma cares about it the least in the world, but I know it is taken notice of by many persons."
"It is hard, I can understand, to have each other always so close" Anne responded; "and I do agree with you Henrietta, that it would be better if Mary did not always put herself forward as she so often does, but I am not so sure that she would listen if I told her so."
Henrietta seemed satisfied with the answer and the conversation was soon concerning more pleasant objects like music and dancing. During the evenings the young ladies often entertained the company with music and since it was a common interest among the three they had hardly need for any other subject for conversation.
The addition of Miss Anne to Uppercross had an effect for the Miss Musgroves that made them deeply in gratitude towards her. They were both wild at dancing, and the evenings ended, occasionally, in an unpremeditated little ball, especially when they were visited by their cousins from Winthrop. Usually Henrietta and Louisa had to take turns playing, but since Anne very much preferred the office of musician to a more active post, played country dances to them by the hour together: a kindness which could never fail to recommend her to both the sisters and to their parents.
CHAPTER XI
So passed the first three weeks of Anne's stay and Michaelmas came. The Crofts took their possession with true naval alertness, and were to be visited. Mrs. Musgrove and her two daughters were amongst the earliest to call on Mrs. Croft.Mrs. Croft, though neither tall nor fat, ha a squareness, uprightness, and vigour of form, which gave importance to her person. She had bright dark eyes, good teeth, and altogether an agreeable face; though her reddened and weather-beaten complexion, the consequence of her having been almost as much at sea as her husband, made her seem to have lived some years longer in the world than her real eight-and-thirty. Her manners were open, easy, and decided, like one who had no distrust of herself, and no doubts of what to do; without any approach to coarseness, however, or any want of good humour. The ladies from Uppercross took an immediate liking towards her, and all agreed on their way home that she was likely to be a very agreeable neighbour.
A few days later the Admiral and Mrs. Crofts returned the visit, and related to them the fact that they were soon expecting the company of Mrs. Crofts' younger brother, a Captain Frederick Wentworth.
On hearing this name Mrs. Musgrove was suddenly struck by a recollection of hearing it before, and remembered that Richard had at some time been under the command of a Captain Wentworth. When the Crofts had taken farewell she had gone to her letters, and found it all as she supposed; and the re-perusal of these letters, after so long an interval, her poor son gone forever, and all the strength of his faults forgotten, affected her spirits exceedingly, and threw her into greater grief for him than she had known on first hearing of his death. Mr. Musgrove was, in a lesser degree, affected likewise and their two daughters tried their best in cheering them up, mostly by listening to their stories about the dear boy Richard, stories which portrayed him in quite a different way than the ones they had already heard.
The family was to spend the evening at the Cottage, and Henrietta and Louisa discussed how they could give the inhabitants of the Cottage notice of their parents' low spirits, and also how to sooth their emotions further.
"What if we should bring the harp?" Louisa said; "it always has a good effect on mamma, you know."
"Yes, but how can we make room for it in the carriage?"
"I can walk in advance. I would not mind it at all. And besides it would give an opportunity to tell the others what has passed."
They soon agreed that it would be the best thing they could do, and Louisa set out from the Great house a quarter-of-an-hour earlier than Henrietta and her parents. At the Cottage she was received with much surprise, but she soon relieved them of every fear they could have by explaining her coming alone.
"I came before the others, to make more room for the harp," she said; "and I will tell you our reason and all about it. I am come to give you notice that papa and mamma are out of spirits this evening, especially mamma; she is thinking so much of poor Richard! And we agreed it would be best to have the harp, for it seems to amuse her more than the piano-forte. I will tell you why she is out of spirits. When the Corfts called this morning, (they called her afterwards, did not they?) they happened to say, that her brother, Captain Wentworth, is just returned to England, or paid off, or something, and is coming to see them almost directly; and most unluckily it came in to mamma's head, when they were gone, that Wentworth, or something very like it, was the name of poor Richard's captain, at one time; I do not know when or where, but a great while before he died, poor fellow! And upon looking over his letters and things, she found it was so, and is perfectly sure that this must be the very man, and her head is quite full of it, and of poor Richard! So we must all be as merry as we can, that she may not be dwelling upon such gloomy things."
Everyone agreed to join forces in cheering Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove up during the evening, and when they arrived it became evident that they were indeed in want, first to be listened to anew on the subject, and afterwards, of all the relief which cheerful companions could give. Mrs. Musgrove related to the rest of the company the kindness which Captain Wentworth had shown poor Dick, and declared herself to have a very high respect for his character, stamped as it was by poor Dick's having been six months under his care, and mentioning him in strong, though not perfectly well-spelt praise, as "a fine dashing felow, only too perticular about the schoolmaster." Both she and Mr. Musgrove declared that they were bent on introducing themselves, and to seek his acquaintance as soon as they could hear of his arrival, and the resolution of doing so helped to form the comfort of their evening.
CHAPTER XII
A very few days more, and Captain Wentworth was known to be at Kellynch, and Mr. Musgrove called on him, and came back warm in his praise, and he was engaged with the Crofts to dine at Uppercross by the end of another week. It had been a great disappointment to Mr. Musgrove to find that no earlier day could be fixed, so impatient was he to show his gratitude, by seeing Captain Wentworth under his own roof, and welcoming him to all that was strongest and best in his cellars, but a week must pass.Captain Wentworth made a very early return to Ms. Musgrove's civility, and thereby enabled Mrs. Musgrove and her two daughters to make his acquaintance as well, and they were all struck by his handsome manly features, amiable disposition and easy manners. Both Henrietta and Louisa found him superior to any other young man they had ever met before, and were most glad on hearing their papa inviting him to stay for dinner. But alas, it was not in his power to do so and their mood sunk instantly only to rise again on hearing him promising to reply to Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove's farther pressing invitations to come and dine with them on the morrow. He promised it in so pleasant a manner, as if he felt all the motive of their attention just as he ought.
Soon after the departure of Captain Wentworth they were brought notice of the most alarming nature from the cottage. The eldest of the two little boys, Charles, had fallen from a tree and was hurt. They all hurried down to the cottage to be of assistance and help to the poor boy's mother and father. Everyone at the Cottage was at a terrible state, just as one might imagine. Mary was in hysterics and was not to be calmed down until her husband arrived.
They all suspected great injury, but knew not where and until the apothecary came their apprehensions were the worse for being vague, but after Mr. Robinson's arrival they were soon calmed. He replaced the collar-bone and examined the boy, and even if he looked grave and spoke low words to the father and the aunt, they all resolved to hope for the best and were able to part and eat dinner in a tolerable ease of mind. Just before they parted the two young aunts were able so far to digress from their nephew's state, as to give the information of Captain Wentworth's visit and even staying five minutes behind their father and mother, to express how perfectly delighted they were with him, how much handsomer, how infinitely more agreeable they thought him than any individual among their male acquaintance, who had been at all a favourite before. In short, they could assure them all that their heads were both turned by him; an off they ran, quite full of glee as of love, and apparently more full of Captain Wentworth than of little Charles.
Later in the evening the two girls went with their father to the Cottage to make further inquiries; and Mr. Musgrove, no longer under the first uneasiness about his heir could, to the girls repeated rapture, add his confirmation and praise, and hope there would be now no occasion for putting Captain Wentworth off, and only be sorry that the Cottage party, probably, would not like to leave the little boy, to give him the meeting.
"Oh!, no; as to leaving the little boy," both father and mother were in much too strong and recent alarm to bear the thought, and Anne added her warm protestations to theirs.
CHAPTER XIII
The next morning the news from the Cottage was relieving to all. The boy had had a good night and went on well during the morning. Dr. Robinson had found nothing to increase alarm even if it must be a work of time to ascertain that no injury had been done to the spine. The Miss Musgoves therefore found themselves almost completely free to look forward to the evening which was to bring them the company of Captain Wentworth.On Mr. Musgrove's return from shooting with his son he even declared that Charles was to join them for dinner, since the boy was already in such good hands and went on so well. This addition to their party was soon followed by a message saying that Mary would be joining her husband and that Anne would stay at home to care for the little boy. There was no great surprise over this news and Mr. Musgrove was glad to be able to introduce both his son and his daughter-in-law to the Captain, even though Henrietta and Louisa might had hoped to be able to further their acquaintance with him in the absence of Mary who always craved a lot of attention.
The evening turned out well, and to everybody's expectations. There was no shyness or reserve in Captain Wentworth but only charming manners, and he soon seemed as an old acquaintance. They all seemed to know each other perfectly. The young ladies entertained the company with music and singing and there was a great deal of easy conversation. Before Captain Wentworth excused himself he agreed to go shooting together with Charles the very next morning. Mary invited him most cordially to join them for breakfast at the Cottage, but he refused the invitation, declaring that he would not want to be in her way on account of the sick child, and did so in such a manner that not even Mary could bear to be offended. Instead it was agreed that both Charles and Captain Wentworth was to come to the Great House instead and breakfast there.
Breakfast the next morning was as joyful an experience for the Miss Musgroves as the dinner had been, and they were both more and more delighted with the Captain for every minute that went by. When Charles went to fetch his dogs at the Cottage Louisa and Henrietta declared that they were to follow them there to inquire after the boy, and Captain Wentworth expressed a wish to pay his respects to Mrs. Charles Musgove if it was not to inconvenient. To assure the Captain of this Charles went ahead of the others to check in on his family and prepare them for the visit, and the girls were therefore escorted by the Captain on the short walk to the Cottage.
"I believe you are already acquainted with our friend Miss Elliot, Captain Wentworth?" Louisa asked.
"Yes, slightly. Only slightly" he answered. "What wonderful colours the trees in your park have got at this time of year," he then continued, which turned the conversation over to the joys of the autumn and the rest of the seasons, which lasted them the rest of the walk.
Mary seemed very gratified by Captain Wentworth's attention and was delighted to receive him. They did not stay long though, and on the departure of the gentlemen the girls quickly decided to extend their walk and follow them at least as far as the end of the village. On their way out Henrietta asked:
"What did you think of Miss Elliot, is she much altered since you saw her last?"
"I declare, she was so altered that I should not have known her again" was his answer after which he instead began a discussion of different rifles with their brother.
Both of the girls' heads were full of thoughts about Captain Wentworth, and Henrietta seemed to have completely forgotten about Cousin Charles, who had been away for a few weeks to visit his friends the Spicers, and Captain Wentworth was from this day forward often in their company. He was received at Uppercross with such friendliness and such flattery that one can hardly blame him for coming there as often as propriety allowed.
CHAPTER XIV
Before long Captain Wentworth and the Crofts came to dinner at Uppercross, and since Little Charles was now quite well the whole party from the Cottage came as well as a couple of the Miss Hayters who were like their cousins both struck by Captain Wentworth's appearance.Captain Wentworth was throughout most of the evening the centre of attention. There was a very general ignorance of all naval 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, etc.; and their surprise at his accounts, at learning the degree of accommodation and arrangement which was practicable, drew from him some pleasant ridicule.
"Do you really think Miss Louisa" he said; "that sailors live 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?"
Of listening to his stories Mrs. Musgrove was overcome by fond regrets, could not help but remarking to Anne who sat beside her:
"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."
None of the others had heard her little speech, but were instead occupied by the Navy List, which was fetched by the Miss Musgroves. It was their own navy list, the first that had ever been at Uppercross, and they sat down together to pore over it, with the professed view of finding out the ships which 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 ever commanded her. Hardly fit for service then. Reported fit for the home service for a year or two, and so I was sent off to the West Indies."
The girls looked all amazement.
"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 sloop 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 then 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 ashore for half a year together? If a man has not a wife, he soon wants to be afloat again."
"But, Captain Wentworth," cried Louisa, "how vexed 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 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 foul weather all the time I was at sea in her; and after taking privateers enough to be very well entertained, I had the good luck in my passage home, the next autumn to fall in with the very French frigate I wanted. I brought her into Plymouth; and here was another instance of luck, We had not been six hours in the Sound, when a gale 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 gallant 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."
This was met by exclamations of pity and horror by the Miss Musgroves who were totally engrossed by his story.
"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 forget."
"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 Mediterranean."
"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 suspense, and as if waiting for more.
"My brother," whispered Louisa; "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 momentary expression in Captain Wentworth's face at this speech, a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome mouth but in another moment he was perfectly collected and serious, and almost instantly afterwards coming up to the sofa, on which Mrs. Musgrove and Anne were sitting, took a place by the former, and entered into conversation with her, in a low voice, about her son, doing it with so much sympathy and natural grace, as showed the kindest consideration for all that was real and unabsurd in the parent's feelings.
The Admiral, after taking two or three refreshing 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 observations 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 professing 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 sacrificed, 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 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 refinement! - - Women may be as comfortable on board, as in the best house in England. I believe I have lived as much on board as mist 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, 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 the three children, round from Portsmouth to Plymouth. Where was this superfine, extraordinary sort of gallantry of yours then?"
"All merged in my friendship, Sophia. I would assist any brother-officer's wife that I could and I would bring any ting 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 has got a wife, he will sing a different tune. 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: Cork, and Lisbon, and Gibraltar. But I never went beyond the Straights, and never was in the West Indies. We do not call Bermuda or Bahamas, you know, the West Indies."
Mrs. Musgrove had not a word to say in dissent, she could not accuse herself of having ever called them any thing 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 that 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 ailed me, and I never met with the smallest inconvenience."
"Ay, to be sure. Yes, indeed, oh yes! I am quite of your opinion, Mrs. Croft," was Mrs. Musgrove's hearty answer. "There is nothing so bad as a separation. 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, much to the joy of the Miss Musgroves. It was a merry, joyous party, and no one seemed in higher spirits than Captain Wentworth. He certainly had everything to elevate him, which general attention and deference, and especially the attention of all the young women could do. If he was spoilt by the universal, eager admiration, who could wonder?
CHAPTER XV
Captain Wentworth was come to Kellynch as to a home, to stay as long as he liked, being as thoroughly the object of the Admiral's fraternal kindness as of his wife's. He had intended, on first arriving, to proceed very soon into Shropshire, and visit the brother settled in that county, but the attractions of Uppercross induced him to put this off. There was so much of friendliness, and of flattery, and of everything agreeable, that he could not but resolve to remain where he was, and take all the charms and perfections of Edward's wife upon credit a little longer.It was soon Uppercross with him almost every day. The Musgroves could hardly be more ready to invite him than he to come, particularly in the morning, when he had no companion at home; for the Admiral and Mrs. Croft were generally out of doors together, interesting themselved in their new possessions, their grass, and their sheep, and dawdling about in a way not endurable to a third person, or driving out in a gig, lately added to their establishment.
Hitherto there had been but one opinion of Captain Wentworth among the Musgroves and dependencies. It was unvarying, warm admiration everywhere; but this intimate footing was not more than established, when Charles Hayter returned among them, to be a good deal disturbed by it, and to think Captain Wentworth very much in the way. He found, with pain, on his return that Henrietta's manners were very altered and seeing Captain Wentworth so often in their circle he could hardly doubt the reason for it. Henrietta had since Captain Wentworth almost forgotten about her poor cousin, whom she had liked so well just a few weeks earlier.
Which of the two sisters was preferred by Captain Wentworth was as yet quite doubtful. Henrietta was perhaps the prettiest, Louisa had the higher spirits, and no one knew as of yet whether the more gentle or the more lively character were most likely to attract him.
Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove, either from seeing little, or from an entire confidence in the discretion of both their daughters, and of all the young men who came near them, seemed to leave everything to take its chance. There was not the smallest appearance of solicitude or remark about them in the Mansion-house; but it was different in 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 Hayter had but just reappeared, when they were discussing over breakfast which was the one liked best. Charles gave it for Louisa, Mary for Henrietta, but quite agreeing that to have him marry either would be extremely delightful.
Charles "had never seen a pleasanter man in his life; and from what he had once heard Captain Wentworth say, was very sure that he had not made less 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 was; and he was sure Captain Wentworth was as likely a man to distinguish himself as any officer in the navy. Oh! it would be a capital match for either of his sisters."
"Upon my word it would," replied Mary. "Dear me! If he should rise to any very great honours! If he should ever be made a baronet! 'Lady Wentworth' sounds very well. That would be a noble thing, indeed, for Henrietta! She would take the place of me then, and Henrietta would not dislike that. Sir Frederick and Lady Wentworth! It would be but a new creation, however, and I never think much of your new creations."
It suited Mary best to think Henrietta the one preferred, on the very account of Charles Hayter, whose pretensions she wished to see put an end to. She looked down very decidedly upon the Hayters, ant thought it would be quite a misfortune to have the existing connection between the families renewed - - very sad for herself and her children.
"You know," said she, "I cannot think him at all a fit match for Henrietta; and considering the alliances which the Musgroves have made, she has no right to throw herself away. I do not think any young woman had a right to make a choice that may be disagreeable and inconvenient to the principal part of her family, and be giving bad connections to those who have not been used to them. And, pray, who is Charles Hayter? Nothing but a country curate. A most improper match for Miss Musgrove, of Uppercross."
Her husband, however, would not agree with her here; for besides having a regard for his cousin, Charles Hayter was an eldest son, and he saw things as an eldest son himself.
"Now you are talking nonsense, Mary," was therefore his answer. "It would not be a great match for Henrietta, but Charles ha a very fair chance, through the Spicers, of getting something from the Bishop in the course of a year or two; and you will please to remember, that he is the eldest son; whenever my uncle dies, he steps into very pretty property. The estate at Winthrop is not less than two thousand and fifty acres, beside 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 chocking 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 fellow; and whenever Winthrop comes into his hands, he will make a different sort of place if it, and live in a very different sort of way; and with that property, he will never be a contemptible man - - good freehold property. No, no; Henrietta might do worse than marry Charles Hayter; and if she has him, and Louisa can get Captain Wentworth, I shall be very well satisfied."
"Charles may say what he pleases," cried Mary to Anne, as soon as he as out of the room, "but it would be very chocking to have Henrietta marry Charles Hayter: a very bad thing for her, and still worse for me; and therefore it is very much to be wished that Captain Wentworth may 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; for he certainly does like Henrietta a great deal the best. But Charles is so positive! I wish you had been with us yesterday, for then you might have decided between ut; and I am sure you would have thought as I did, unless you had been determined to give it against me."
A dinner at Mr. Musgrove's had been the occasion when all these things should have been seen by Anne; but she had staid at home, due to a head-ache and some return on indisposition in little Charles.
Charles Hayter had met with much to disquiet and mortify him in his cousin's behaviour. She had too old a regard for him to be so wholly estranged as might in two meetings extinguish every past hope, and leave him nothing to do but keep away from Uppercross; but there was such a change as became very alarming, when such a man as Captain Wentworth was to be regarded as the probable cause. He had been absent only two Sundays, and when they parted, had left her interested, even to the height of his wishes, in his prospect of soon quitting his present curacy, and obtaining that of Uppercross instead. The advantage of his having to come only to Uppercross, instead of going six miles another way; of his having, en every respect, a better curacy; of his belonging to their dear Dr. Shirley; and of dear, good Dr. Shirley's being relieved from his duties, had been a great deal, even to Louisa, but had been almost every thing to Henrietta. When he came back, alas! The zeal of business was gone by. Louisa could not listen at all to his account of a conversation which he had just held with Dr. Shirley: she was at the window, looking out for Captain Wentworth; and even Henrietta had at best only a divided attention to give, and seemed to have forgotten all the former doubt and solicitude of the negotiation.
"Well, I am very glad indeed; but I always thought you would have it; I always thought you sure. It did not appear to me that - - in short, you know, Dr. Shirley must have a curate, and you had secured his promise. Is he coming, Louisa?"
CHAPTER XVI
Charles Hayter seemed aware of being slighted, but Henrietta had sometimes the air of being divided between them. Her affection for her cousin was of to early a date to be soon forgotten. After a short struggle, however, Charles Hayter seemed to quit the field. Three days had passed without him coming once to Uppercross; a most decided 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 was 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 dependence of seeing him to-morrow.One morning, about this time, Henrietta had a talk during a slow walk in the garden.
"What do you think about Cousin Charles not coming here for such a long time, Henrietta" Louisa asked.
"I do not know."
"Dear sister, I know we have never really spoken of it, but I always supposed that you and Cousin Charles had a strong attachment, and that you would marry him some day when his circumstances would permit it."
"Oh, I do not know!" cried Henrietta. "He has never said anything about such a thing, and now he is suddenly all gone. Perhaps he had no special regard for me anyway."
"I cannot imagine that to be true. Is it not possible that he believes you to be in love with Captain Wentworth, and has simply quit the field because he thinks he cannot compete with him for your affection? You have acted a bit strange about him, you know."
"Maybe I have, but I hardly knew what I felt. Captain Wentworth is so handsome and so entertaining, and he has seen so much of the world that I guess I was quite swept off my feet. Charles had always been my friend, and I have always enjoyed his company, but - -"
"But, how do you feel about them now?"
"Oh, Louisa! it is such a mess. I love Charles. I have always loved him. Ever since our first ball. Do you remember? And now I have lost him over a silly infatuation."
"I remember, and I suspected as much. Of course you have not lost him. It cannot be too late. There is only one thing to do; you must go to Winthrop to see him. I shall will go with you this morning."
And so the two girls set out for their walk to Winthrop, since they always used to take the way past the Cottage they felt they had no other choice but to do so even now, and invite Mary and Anne to come with them, even if Marys company on such an expedition was hardly wanted. They only stopped at the window, hoping to find the two sisters occupied, and said that they were going to take a long walk, and, therefore concluded May could not like to go with them, but Mary immediately replied:
"Oh, yes, I should like to go with you very much; I am very fond of a long walk."
Anne, who maybe suspected that Mary's company was not really wanted, tried to persuade her to stay at home, but without any luck, and accepted instead the invitation herself as well.
Just as they were setting off, Charles and Captain Wentworth returned from shooting. 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, and the whole six of them set forward together in the direction chosen by the Miss Musgroves.
Where the path was to narrow to hold them all, they were separated into two groups, of which the first one contained of Henrietta, Louisa and Captain Wentworth. Henrietta was not in a great mood for easy conversation, so it fell mostly on Louisa to entertain herself with the Captain, a fact she had no objection to. They were engaged in a lively chat, and after one of the many praises of the day, which were continually bursting forth, 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 live 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 loved the Admiral, I would always be with him, nothing would ever separate us, and I would rather be overturned by him than driven safely by anybody else."
"Had you?" cried he; "I honour you!"
After about another half-mile of gradual ascent through large enclosures, where the ploughs at work and the fresh-made oath spoke the farmer counteracting 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, standing low, and hemmed 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 said in a lower voice; "You cannot turn back now, Henrietta. You said it yourself, it might be to late already!"
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 showed her strength; and when he recommended the advantage of resting herself a quarter of an hour at Winthrop, as she felt so tired, she resolutely answered, "Oh no, indeed! walking up that hill again would do her more harm than sitting down could do her good"; and, in short, her look and manner declared that she would not.
After a little succession of these sort of debates and consultations, 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 their cousins, while the rest of the party waited for them at the top of the hill. Louisa was the principal arranger of the plan; and as she went a little way with them down the hill, continued to persuade Henrietta not to let the opportunity to talk to Cousin Charles get away from her.
The brow of the hill, where they remained, was a cheerful spot: Louisa returned; and Mary, finding a comfortable seat for her on the step of a stile, seemed to be very well satisfied, but Louisa and Captain Wentworth were in no humour of being still and soon drew away from the others to try for a gleaning of nuts in an adjoining hedge-row.
When away from Mary and Anne, Louisa related to Captain Wentworth their reasons for choosing Winthrop as the goal of their walk. "They have been attached for several years know, you see, and I could not bare to see a silly misunderstanding come between two people who are in every respect so well suited for each other, and who I believe cares deeply for each other. And so, I made her go. I could not bare that she should be frightened from the visit by such nonsense. What! would I be turned back from doing a thing that I had determined to do, and that I knew to be right, by the airs 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 entirely to have made up hers to call at Winthrop to-day; and yet, she was as near giving it up out of nonsensical complaisance!"
"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 woe betide him, and her too, when it comes to things of consequence, when they are placed in circumstances requiring fortitude and strength of mind, if she have not resolution enough to resist idle interference in such a trifle as this. Your sister 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 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, blessed with original strength, has outlived all the storms of autumn. Not a puncture, not a weak spot any where. This nut," he continued, with playful solemnity, "while som many of its brethren have fallen and been trodden under foot, is still in possession of all the happiness that a hazel can be supposed capable of." Then returning to his former earnest tone - - "My first wish fro 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."
Louisa was moved by this speech of his, but could not give an intelligent answer. After a few moments, though, she regained her composure and was able to say:
"Mary is good-natured enough in many respects, but she does sometimes provoke me excessively by her nonsense and her 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."
At this Captain Wentworth made no answer, and after a while they were again engaged in conversation of an easier style, regarding little of the human nature and of feeling and love.
Charles and Henrietta returned, bringing, as may be conjectured, Charles Hayter with them. The minutiae 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 devoted to each other almost from the first instant of their 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. Louisa, though, was not as sure about the Captains interest in her as were the rest. He did not again enter into speeches as in the hedge-row, but kept to stories about his travels for the entire walk.
Their footpath after a while, was to cross the lane that it was bordering, and at almost that exact moment, 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 kindly 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 was surmounting 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 seemed never to have the time to decline, before 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.
"Miss Elliot looked tired," he shortly said to Louisa, continuing their conversation.
CHAPTER XVII
Posted on March 20, 2009
After the visit at Winthrop all was well again between Henrietta and Charles Hayter, and Henrietta had a constant glow on her cheeks. Louisa was happy for them, and was glad that she had been able to, in some respect, further her beloved sister's happiness. The whole family was now awaiting a proposal from Captain Wentworth to her; they seemed as a decided couple, even if nothing had been spoken between them.
For a couple of days the party at Uppercross neither saw nor heard anything from Captain Wentworth, with the effect of some confusion. No one could believe that he had left the county without taking leave, even if he had often talked about his intended trip to visit his brother in Shropshire, but no more had the grave thought entered their heads before he appeared again among them to justify himself by a relation of what had kept him away.
A letter from his friend, Captain Harville, having found him out at last, had brought him intelligence of Captain Harville's being settled with his family at Lyme for then winter; of their being, therefore, quite unknowingly, within twenty miles of each other. Captain Harville had never been in good health since a severe wound which he received two years before, and Captain Wentworth's anxiety to see him had determined him to go immediately to Lyme. He had been there for four-and-twenty hours. His acquittal was complete, his friendship warmly honoured, a lively interest excited for his friend, and his description of the fine country about Lyme so feelingly attended to by the party, that an earnest desire to see Lyme themselves, and a project for going thither was the consequence.
The young people were all wild to see Lyme. Captain Wentworth talked of going there again himself; it was only seventeen miles from Uppercross; though November, the weather was by no means bad; and in short, Louisa, who was the most eager, having formed the resolution to go, and besides the pleasure of doing as she liked, being now armed with the idea of merit in maintaining her own way, bore down all the wishes of her father and mother for putting it off till summer; and to Lyme they were to go - - Charles, Mary, Anne, Henrietta, Louisa, and Captain Wentworth.
The first heedless scheme had been to go in the morning and return at night, but to this Mr. Musgrove for the sake of his horses, would not consent; and when it came to be rationally considered, a day in the middle of November would not leave much time for seeing a new place, after deducting seven hours, as the nature of the country required, for going and returning. They were, consequently, to stay the night there, and not to be expected back till the next day's dinner. This was felt to be a considerable amendment; and though they all met at the Great House at rather an early breakfast hour, and set off very punctually, it was so much past noon before the two carriages - - Mr. Musgrove's coach containing the four ladies, and Charles's curricle, in which he drove Captain Wentworth - - were descending the long hill into Lyme, and entering upon the still steeper street of the town itself, that it was very evident they would not have more than time for looking about them, before the light and warmth of the day were gone.
After securing accommodations, and ordering a dinner at one of the inns, the next thing to be done was unquestionably to walk directly down to the sea. They were come too late in the year for any amusement or variety which Lyme as a public place, might offer. The rooms were shut up, the lodgers almost gone, scarcely any family but of the residents left; and as there is nothing to admire in the buildings themselves, the remarkable situation of the town, the principal street almost hurrying into the water, the walk on the Cobb, skirting round the pleasant little bay, which in the season is animated with bathing-machines and company; the Cobb itself, its old wonders and new improvements, with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to the east of the town, are what the stranger's eye will seek, and a very strange stranger it must be, who does not see charms in the immediate environs of Lyme, to make him wish to know it better. The scenes in its neighbourhood, Charmouth, with its high grounds and extensive sweeps of country, and still more its sweet, retired bay, backed by dark cliffs, where fragments of low rock among the sands make it the happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide, for sitting in unwearied contemplation; the woody varieties of the cheerful village of Up Lyme; and above all, Pinny, with its green chasms between romantic rocks, where the scattered forest-trees and orchards of luxuriant growth declare that many a generation must have passed away since the first partial falling of the cliff prepared the ground for such a state, where a scene so wonderful and so lovely is exhibited, as may more than equal any of the resembling scenes of the far-famed Isle of Wight: these places must be visited, and visited again to make the worth of Lyme understood.
The party from Uppercross passing down by the now deserted and melancholy-looking rooms, and still descending, soon found themselves on the seashore; and lingering only, as all must linger and gaze on a first return to the sea, who ever deserve to look on it at all, proceeded towards the Cobb, equally their object in itself an on Captain Wentworth's account: for in a small house, near the foot of an old pier of unknown date, were the Harvilles settled. Captain Wentworth turned in to call on his friend; the others walked on, and he was to join them on the Cobb.
They were by no means tired of wondering and admiring; and not even Louisa felt that they had parted with Captain Wentworth long, when they saw him coming after them, with three companions, all well known already, by description, to be Captain and Mrs. Harville, and a Captain Benwick, who was staying with them.
Captain Benwick had some time ago been first lieutenant of the Laconia; and the account which Captain Wentworth had given of him, on his return from Lyme before, his warm praise of him as an excellent young man and an officer, whom he had always valued highly, which must have stamped him well in the esteem of every listener, had been followed by a little history of his private life, which rendered him perfectly interesting in the eyes of the ladies. He had been engaged to Captain Harville's sister, and was now mourning her loss. They had been a year or two waiting for fortune and promotion. Fortune came, his prize-money as lieutenant being great; promotion, too, came at last; but Fanny Harville did not live to know it. She had died the preceding summer, while he was at sea. Captain Wentworth believed it impossible for a man to be more attached to a woman than poor Benwick had been to Fanny Harville, or to be more deeply afflicted under the dreadful change. He considered his disposition as of the sort which must suffer heavily, uniting very strong feelings with quiet, serious, and retiring manners, and a decided taste for reading, and sedentary pursuits. To finish the interest of the story, the friendship between him and the Harvilles seemed, if possible, augmented by the event which closed all their views of alliance, and Captain Benwick was now living with them entirely. Captain Harville had taken his present house for half a year; his taste, and his health, and his fortune all directing him to a residence unexpensive, and by the sea; and the grandeur of the country, and the retirement of Lyme in the winter, appeared exactly adapted to Captain Benwick's state of mind. The sympathy and goodwill excited towards Captain Benwick was very great.
They all met, and were introduced. Captain Harville was a tall, dark man, with a sensible, benevolent countenance: a little lame; and, from strong features and want of health, looking much older than Captain Wentworth. Captain Benwick looked, and was, the youngest of the three, and compared with either of them, a little man. He had a handsome face and a melancholy air, just as he ought to have, and drew back from conversation.
Captain Harville, though not equalling Captain Wentworth in manners, was a perfect gentleman, unaffected, warm, and obliging. Mrs. Harville, a degree less polished than her husband, seemed, however, to have the same good feelings; and nothing could be more pleasant than their desire of considering the whole party as friends of their own, because the friends of Captain Wentworth, or more kindly hospitable than their entreaties for their all promising to dine with them. The dinner, already ordered at the inn, was last, though unwillingly, accepted as an excuse; but they seemed almost hurt that Captain Wentworth should have brought any such party to Lyme, without considering it as a thing of course that they should dine with them.
Louisa was struck with the natural form of hospitality shown by these friends of Captain Wentworth, and reflected over the strong friendships that these men had apparently formed at sea, a kind of friendship she had never before encountered. She was very much delighted with all of them, even if they belonged to a set of people with home she had rarely had had any contact before.
On quitting the Cobb, they all went indoors with their new friends, and found rooms as small as none but those who invite from the heart could think capable of accommodating so many. Louisa was amazed by all the ingenious contrivances and nice arrangements of Captain Harville, to turn the actual space to the best possible account, to supply the deficiencies of lodging-house furniture, and defend the windows and the doors against the winter storms to be expected. The varieties in the fitting-up of the rooms, where the common necessities provided by the owner, in the common indifferent plight, were contrasted with some few articles of a rare species of wood, excellent worked up, and with something curious and valuable from all the distant countries Captain Harville had visited, were more than amusing; connected as it was with his profession, the fruits of its labours, the effect of its influence on his habits, the picture of repose and domestic happiness it presented, made it something more. Louisa was thinking about all the objects that must belong to Captain Wentworth and longed to see them in a similar manner exposed, as a background to all his stories.
Captain Harville was no reader; but he had contrived excellent accommodations, and fashioned very pretty shelves, for a tolerable collection of well-bound volumes, the property of Captain Benwick. Louisa, who was hardly any great reader herself, was impressed by the volumes, containing mostly poetry, a genre with which she was poorly acquainted with. Captain Harville's lameness prevented him from taking much exercise; but a mind of usefulness and ingenuity seemed to furnish him with constant employment within. He drew, he varnished, he carpentered, he glued; he made toys for the children, he fashioned new netting-needles and pins with improvements; and if everything else was done, sat down to his large fishing-net at one corner of the room.
On quitting the house Louisa burst forth into raptures of admiration and delight on the character of the navy: their friendliness, their brotherliness, their openness, their uprightness; protesting that she was convinced of sailors having more worth and warmth than any other set of men in England; that they only knew how to live, and they only deserved to be respected and loved.
They went back to dress and dine; and so well had the scheme answered already, that nothing was found amiss; though its being "so entirely out of the season," and the "no-thorough-fare of Lyme," and the "no expectation of company," had brought many apologies from the heads of the inn.
The nights were too dark for the ladies to meet again till the morrow, but Captain Harville had promised them a visit in the evening; and he came, bringing his friend also, which was more than had been expected, it having agreed that Captain Benwick had all the appearance of being oppressed by the presence of so many strangers. He ventured among them again, however, though his spirits certainly did not seem fit for the mirth of the party in general.
The captains Harville and Wentworth led the talk on one side of the room, entertaining almost the whole company. It was only Captain Benwick and Anne, who did not participate, but instead sat conversing together. Louisa saw several times that Captain Wentworth was looking in their direction, with a grave look on his face. She figured he must be worried about his friend, and perhaps was thankful to Anne for talking to him. There could hardly be any other in the room that was more suitable for the task, since she also was well read and interested in both poetry and prose, but Louisa was confused. Captain Wentworth did not seem very pleased on seeing them together, quite the contrary.
CHAPTER XVIII
Louisa awoke early in her bed at the inn in Lyme, rested her head against the pillow for a few moments, thinking about Captain Wentworth and the days that had gone by in his company. He was truly the most amiable and handsome man she had ever been acquainted with and she felt quite confident that he held her in high esteem.
In spite of this she could not but feel that something was lacking. She had many times observed the way her cousin Charles Hayter looked at her sister Henrietta and could not remember seeing the same glance in Captain Wentworth's eyes when looking at her self. Was he really in love or did he regard her only as a friend and a humorous companion? She was not even sure if what she felt was really love. She enjoyed his company above any other man she had ever knew, bur she was not sure that her happiness relied solely upon him, as Henrietta's seemed to rely upon cousin Charles.
Louisa had ever since she was a little girl dreamed about love, all consuming love, but since she had never really been in love, she now asked herself if this really was what she was feeling for the Captain.
In time she rose from bed and decided to get dressed, even if it was a long time until breakfast would be served. She could bear her pondering thoughts and her solitude no longer.
Out in the hallway Louisa met no other than Captain Wentworth. "Miss Louisa!" he said. "Are you always such an early awakener in the morning? I have not yet heard anything even of your brother this morning."
"Good morning, Captain" she replied. "Perhaps it is the sea-air that has awakened me. I was actually hoping to find some other of the party already up, for I am quite eager to see more of Lyme, and it would be a pity to just sit inside and wait for breakfast to be served. Do you not agree?"
"Then you will perhaps accompany me on a short walk before breakfast?" Captain Wentworth asked.
"Certainly, Captain! Just let me get my pelisse and I shall be with you promptly."
Louisa re-entered her room to get her pelisse and her bonnet, eager to get out on the intended walk before any one else got up. Perhaps a tête-à-tête with the Captain could help her resolve her feelings for him, or allow him to explain his intentions.
A look in the mirror confirmed what she already knew. The bonnet was indeed flattering and she looked very well. She could only hope that the Captain agreed.
When outside Captain Wentworth offered Louisa his arm and they began their walk towards the sea. Captain Wentworth was entertaining as ever, talking about his adventures at sea and Louisa listened with great interest.
Suddenly Captain Wentworth dropped Louisa's arm and went silent. Louisa looked up and saw Henrietta and Anne walking together. Louisa glanced up at Captain Wentworth's face and saw to her astonishment that his complexion had turned quite pale. She was confused about his behaviour since they had not been engaged in any conversation which could not be overheard by others.
When meeting up with Henrietta and Anne, Captain Wentworth hardly spoke a word and it seemed to Louisa as if he was discontented with the encounter and she started to think that he perhaps had intended to engage her in a more serious kind of conversation. To avoid the awkward silence that had occurred she said: "Oh, I just remembered! Yesterday I saw such a lovely ribbon in one of the shop windows. I should very much like to go there and buy it right away before it slips my mind again."
"Then we shall walk there with you," Henrietta said. "It is probably time for breakfast soon anyway."
When they came to the steps leading upwards from the beach, a gentleman, at the same moment preparing to come down, politely drew back, and stopped to give them way. Walking towards the shops Louisa noticed that Captain Wentworth turned and looked at the gentleman. "Did you know that gentleman, Captain?" she asked.
"No, I have never seen him in my life," he responded and again started talking about life at sea. After attending Louisa through her business, and loitering about a little longer, they returned to the inn.
CHAPTER XIX
They had nearly done breakfast, when the sound of a carriage (almost the first they had heard since entering Lyme) drew half the party to the window. It was a gentleman's carriage, a curricle, but only coming round from the stable-yard to the front door -- somebody must be going away. It was driven by a servant in mourning.
The word curricle made Charles Musgrove jump up, that he might compare it with his own, and the whole six were collected to look by the time the owner of the curricle was to be seen issuing from the door, amidst the bows and civilities of the household, and taking his seat, to drive off.
"Ah!" cried Captain Wentworth instantly "it is the very man we passed."
Louisa and Henrietta agreed to it; and having all kindly watched him as far up the hill as they could, they returned to the breakfast-table. The waiter came into the room soon afterwards.
"Pray," said Captain Wentworth immediately, "can you tell us the name of the gentleman who is just gone away?"
"Yes, sir, a Mr. Elliot, a gentleman of large fortune, came in last night from Sidmouth. Dare say you heard the carriage, sir, while you were at dinner; and going on now for Crewkherne, on his way to Bath and London."
"Elliot!" Many had looked on each other, and many had repeated the name, before all this had been got through, even by the smart rapidity of a waiter.
"Bless me!" cried Mary, "it must be our cousin; it must be our Mr. Elliot, it must, indeed! Charles, Anne, must not it? In mourning, you see, just as our Mr. Elliot must be. How very extraordinary! In the very same inn with us! Anne, must not it be our Mr. Elliot; my father's next heir? Pray, sir," turning to the waiter, "did not you hear, did not his servant say whether he belonged to the Kellynch family?"
"No, ma'am, he did not mention no particular family; but he said his master was a very rich gentleman, and would be a baronight some day."
"There! you see!" cried Mary, in an ecstacy; "just as I said! Heir to Sir Walter Elliot! I was sure that would come out, if it was so. Depend upon it, that is a circumstance which his servants take care to publish, wherever he goes. But, Anne, only conceive how extraordinary! I wish I had looked at him more. I wish we had been aware in time who it was, that he might have been introduced to us. What a pity that we should not have been introduced to each other! Do you think he had the Elliot countenance? I hardly looked at him, I was looking at the horses; but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance. I wonder the arms did not strike me! Oh! the great-coat was hanging over the pannel, and hid the arms, so it did; otherwise, I am sure, I should have observed them, and the livery too; if the servant had not been in mourning, one should have known him by the livery."
"Putting all these very extraordinary circumstances together," said Captain Wentworth, "we must consider it to be the arrangement of Providence that you should not be introduced to your cousin."
Louisa was once again puzzled as to Captain Wentworth's interest in the gentleman, but did not venture to speak of it.
Breakfast had not been long over, when they were joined by Captain and Mrs. Harville and Captain Benwick, with whom they had appointed to take their last walk about Lyme. They ought to be setting off for Uppercross by one, and in the meanwhile were to be all together, and out of doors as long as they could.
As the day before Captain Wentworth sought Louisa's company and they had a pleasant walk. The captain seemed more serene then the day before, though and Louisa felt confused. She did not know what to make out of his behaviour. Perhaps he was contemplating how to make his addresses to her. But if that was the case, why had he not done so when he had the chance earlier that morning?
Mrs. Harville's giving it as her opinion that her husband would have quite walking enough by the time he reached home, determined the direction of all the party in what was to be their last walk; they would accompany them to their door, and then return and set off themselves. By all their calculations there was just time for this; but as they drew near the Cobb, there was such a general wish to walk along it once more, all were so inclined, and Louisa soon grew so determined, that the difference of a quarter of an hour, it was found, would be no difference at all; so with all the kind leave-taking, and all the kind interchange of invitations and promises which may be imagined, they parted from Captain and Mrs. Harville at their own door, and still accompanied by Captain Benwick, who seemed to cling to them to the last, proceeded to make the proper adieus to the Cobb.
There was too much wind to make the high part of the new Cobb pleasant for the ladies, and they agreed to get down the steps to the lower. Louisa got a wonderful idea. She must be jumped down them by Captain Wentworth. In all their walks he had had to jump her from the stiles; the sensation was delightful to her. The hardness of the pavement for her feet made him less willing upon the present occasion; he did it, however. She was safely down, and instantly to show her enjoyment, ran up the steps to be jumped down again. He advised her against it, thought the jar too great; but no, he reasoned and talked in vain, she smiled and said, "I am determined I will": he put out his hands; she was too precipitate by half a second, she fell on the pavement on the Lower Cobb, and all went dark around her.
CHAPTER XX
The next thing Louisa knew was waking up in a strange bed in a room she had not seen before. Her head was aching and she felt confused. She looked around and finally saw a familiar face. The Musgrove's old nursery-maid Sarah was sitting in a chair beside the bed. What had happened?
Sarah had observed Louisa's awakening. "Dear Miss Louisa" she cried. "You have woken up at last my poor child! How are you feeling my poor angel? You gave us quite a scare you know."
"What do you mean Sarah? What has happened?" asked Louisa confused. "Pray, might I have some water? My head is aching and I am very thirsty."
"Do not you remember Miss?" said Sarah. "You fell from the Cobb and have been quite ill, child." Sarah helped Louisa to some water and then left her to go tell the others of her awakening.
The next person entering the room was Mrs. Harville, and Louisa started to remember the trip to Lyme and the walk on the Cobb. She had behaved like a silly girl and apparently caused her friends a lot of trouble. If she had not felt so faint she would have been quite ashamed of herself.
"My dear Miss Musgrove" Mrs. Harville said. "How glad I am that you have finally woken up. Your brother and sister-in-law will be here presently. Sarah went to the inn to tell them the good news."
"Oh, Mrs. Harville, I hope I have not been causing you too much trouble" Louisa said with a faint voice. "I hardly know what has happened."
Mrs. Harville gave her the whole story, explaining how she had fallen from the Cobb and was carried to their house. Louisa was also told that Charles, Mary and Captain Wentworth was still in Lyme awaiting her recovery, and that Sarah had been brought by Charles from Uppercross to be of use to Mrs. Harville in caring for Louisa. "I believe" continued Mrs. Harville "that your parents and your sister are planning to come here shortly as well. I think we might expect them later today."
Louisa closed her eyes in mortification. Such a silly thing she had done, and how it must have worried her family. Mrs. Harville had told her that it was in fact hers and Captain Hartville's own bedroom that was housing Louisa. They had been forced to move out because of her. She felt most deeply the great kindness that they had all been showing her. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillow. Even though she felt very ill indeed, she could not keep from being embarrassed about the situation that her folly had put her in.
Mrs. Harville thought that Louisa had gone back to sleep and left her quietly. She had in the last couple of days come to care deeply for the young woman who had been thrown in her care by the unfortunate event at the Cobb, and she was truly concerned about her, as was her husband. They had only the night before discussed Miss Musgrove and Fredericks relationship, and they were happy that he had find what seemed to be such a lovely girl, and had joined in prayers for her recovery.
Downstairs she met with Charles and Mary Musgrove and Captain Wentworth who had all come to inquire after Louisa. Charles wanted to see his sister as soon as possible and was visibly saddened over the report of her falling asleep. He was indeed a most caring brother, and felt deeply for his younger sister and her misfortune. Captain Wentworth seemed calmed by the report that Louisa had woken up and spoken with both Sarah and Mrs. Harville, but turned pale when Mrs. Harville said that he might soon be able to see her.
"No, my dear Mrs. Harville, not I" he cried. "I would not want to upset Miss Musgrove by showing myself before it is totally clear that she is fully recovered. I had too much a hand in the accident to want to risk it."
At this point Captain Benwick entered the room. He had also come to inquire after the young lady, since he had had to move out to make room in the house for her. A young lady struck down by such a terrible accident could not but move him profoundly and he felt for his friend whose lady had been so near the fate as his own beloved. He was informed that Louisa had regained consciousness and expressed his happiness with deepest feeling.
Up in her room Louisa reflected silently on the information given to her by Mrs. Harville. She was indeed grateful that her brother had decided to stay in Lyme awaiting her recovery. Captain Wentworth was also still here! Did it mean that he indeed loved her, and if it did would he still after her reckless behaviour? And if he did love her, did she return his affection? She could not help but smiling at herself and her ponderings. They were still just the same as they had been before the accident.
A gentle knock on the door preceded its opening and Charles came into the room. Louisa's eyes filled up with tears in seeing her brother's concerned face hovering over the bed. "Oh, Charles" said she. "I am so sorry. I should have known better than doing such a stupid thing. You must all have been so worried and I am all to blame. How can you ever forgive me?"
"Dear Louisa. How can you say such a thing" her brother responded. "It was an accident and no one is to blame. The important thing right now is for you to get better."
Louisa started crying and Charles did what he could to console her but had to give up the task and went out to fetch Sarah hoping that she would be more successful in comforting her young mistress. He was deeply concerned for his sister. She did not seem at all like the happy young woman she had been just a few days ago, and he was afraid she would never be the same again.
When he came down to the drawing room he looked at Captain Wentworth who was sitting down at the table staring down at his knees. The young seemed deeply concerned about Louisa, which seemed to confirm his attachment to her. "I am sure she will be as good as new in no time, Captain" he said in an effort to cheer him up.
"She has always been strong."
"I really hope you are right Musgrove" said Captain Wentworth. "I blame my self for what has happened to her and I am sure I will be easy until she is quite recovered." He looked pained and Charles decided to leave him to his own thoughts and instead suggested to his wife that they should go back to the inn and await his parents and sister who would arrive shortly. "For we are no use here, Mary, and you know that a sick-room would only make you upset." Mary agreed and they left leaving the captains Wentworth and Benwick alone.
"Wentworth" said Benwick quietly. "I cannot begin to express my feelings for you at this moment. You must feel it exceedingly. But I am now quite confident that the young lady will soon be recovered and the preparations for your union can continue."
"Our union?" cried Wentworth. "What ever do you mean, Benwick?"
Benwick looked at him with surprise. "I thought of course that everything was settled between you. Your behaviour towards her, your feelings when she was injured. Do you mean to say that you are not engaged?"
"Engaged! No, certainly not." Wentworth had arisen and started to walk up and down the room. "And is it only you who believes this?"
"No, certainly not. Harville and Fanny thought so too. We spoke of it in the evening when you first had come to Lyme" Benwick responded with some confusion. "I am sorry if I have offended you, my friend, but I was quite certain. We all were."
Captain Wentworth looked even more troubled than he had been before, and had resumed his place at the table, but would not speak any more. Benwick chose not to say anything further on the subject, but he could not understand his friend. Why would he give the impression of courting a young woman if he did not intend on marrying her? And such a lovely young woman, too, with such a lively air and such sweet manners.
CHAPTER XXI
Louisa condition continued to improve, and in a few days she was able to sit up for a few hours in Mrs. Harville's drawing room. Charles and Mary returned to Uppercross and their children but Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove decided to stay for a while longer.
The company of her mother and sister was a great comfort to Louisa, as was the constant caring of Mrs. Harville's. She did not feel so much as an intrusion any longer but she could not be completely happy. Captain Wentworth had not yet come to see her, and she started to believe him not to be attached to her, if he had ever been. She did miss his company, but her heart was not broken. The shame that she still felt over her behaviour at the Cobb would have made a meeting between them painful to her, she believed, and she was not yet ready to look him in the eyes that she had used to do.
One morning when Louisa sat in her bed with some tea Henrietta came into the room. "Louisa" said she. "I must ask you. I cannot stay silent any longer. Is everything settled between you and Captain Wentworth?"
"Settled? Do you mean to ask if we are engaged?" said Louisa and looked up at her sister. "No, we are not engaged."
Henrietta was silent at first, and then resumed "I had to ask you, for I was so confused about his not coming to see you. I was so sure that he loved you. And now he has left for Plymouth to see some friends. I am sorry if I am causing you pain, but I felt that I must tell you, Louisa."
"I am quite alright Henrietta" Louisa said calmly. "I have known for some time now that he did not love me."
"Oh Louisa, I am so sorry" Henrietta said sitting down on the bed. "I do not know what to say."
"We should say as little as possible on the subject, I believe" said Louisa quietly. "It was only a foolish infatuation. I know that now. Nothing at all like what is between you and Charles."
When Henrietta saw that her sister did not want to talk any more on the subject she left her to tell their concerned mother what she had learned from Louisa.
"I do not know mother, I was so certain of their mutual affection. Especially when I saw how he reacted to the accident" Henrietta said.
"The important thing is that she is not heartbroken, poor girl" Mrs. Musgrove replied. "But I must confess that it amazes me. It seemed as if Captain Wentworth courted her week after week. But it seems it has all come to nothing."
"I am worried about her, mother" Henrietta continued. "She is not the same person any longer. Can it really all be because of the head trauma? She seems quite well now, but she is so sedate, so quiet, so…"
"We cannot expect her to be exactly the same as she used to be, my dear" said Mrs. Musgrove. "Even if she is alright physically, the chock in it self must have affected her. We must give her time."
Henrietta was almost content with this explanation, but could not feel completely easy for her sister, so she decided that she would stay with her as long as it was needed and give her all the support and help she could need. Since Louisa had expressed clearly that she did not want to talk about Captain Wentworth both her sister and her mother both decided to avoid the subject.
CHAPTER XXII
Louisa kept mending from her wounds but she was still fragile and the surgeon did not want her moved for yet another couple of weeks. The holidays were coming up and Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove were forced to go home to Uppercross to receive their younger children for their Christmas holiday. Henrietta was most kindly invited by the Harvilles to remain at Lyme with her sister, an invitation with which she complied with most cordially. To further lessen Mrs. Hartville's troubles Mrs. Musgrove offered to take the Harville children back to Uppercross with her, an offer which Mrs. Harville could not refuse to agree with. She was truly worried about her young guest and wanted nothing more than to lessen the noise around her, even if it meant that she would be separated from her own children for several weeks.The fact that both all of the little Harvilles and their nurse removed to Uppercross finally enabled Captain Benwick to move back in with Captain Harville and his family and Captain Harville was happy to receive his friend in his home again. He had been worried about his dear friend, of whom he had seen but little since Benwick had not wanted to intrude too much during Miss Musgroves illness.
The party, now consisting of Captain and Mrs. Harville, Henrietta, Louisa and Captain Benwick, was a quiet one and well suited for Louisa's current state. She was met with every possible kindness and started to feel better, even if she was still very low in spirits and seemed nervous at any high noise.
One evening when both Captain Harville and his wife was out and Henrietta was sitting by the drawing room window writing a letter to Uppercross Louisa asked Captain Benwick if he would not care to read something to her. He looked up, somewhat surprised, since the young lady had never before shown any interest in poetry but readily complied.
"What would you like to hear, Miss Louisa?" he asked in his gentle voice.
"I hardly know, Captain" she answered. "I am sure you are a better judge than I could ever be."
"Then if you will allow it, I shall read The Giaor by Lord Byron" Benwick said, took up his book and started reading:
No breath of air to break the wave
That rolls below the Athenian's grave,
That tomb which, gleaming o'er the cliff,
First greets the homeward-veering skiff,
High o'er the land he saved in vain;
When shall such hero live again?
He looked up at Louisa, perhaps to see if she seemed to enjoy his reading, and to his amazement he saw that she had closed her eyes and leaned back. He continued his reading.
Fair clime ! where every seasons smiles
Benignant o'er those blessed isles,
Which, seen from far Colonna's height,
Make glad the heart that hails the sight,
And lend to loneliness delight.
There mildly dimpling, Ocean's cheek
Reflects the tints of many a peak
Caught by the laughing tides that lave
These Edens of the eastern wave:
And if at times a transient breeze
Break the blue crystal of the seas,
Or sweep one blossom from the trees,
How welcome in each gentle air
That wakes and wafts the odours there!
Louisa listened with her eyes closed to his beautiful low voice. In a pause she opened her eyes and found his to be fixed on her. Their eyes met in silence.
Captain Harville entered the room and since he had no notion of what has passed engaged Benwick in conversation. After a few minutes Henrietta had finished her letter and joined them, but Louisa was still quiet.
CHAPTER XXIII
The next morning after breakfast Mrs. Harville and Henrietta went out to make some purchases. Christmas was coming up, and even if most of their time was consumed in caring for Louisa life had in some respect had to go one as usual.
Louisa was sitting alone in the drawing room when Captain Benwick came back from his morning walk.
"Good morning, Captain" Louisa said with a soft smile. "I have not yet thanked you for your reading last night. I enjoyed it very much."
"Oh, it was no trouble, Miss Musgrove" he replied. "I shall be glad to read to you at any time if you want me to."
"I should like it very much" she said. "This is so strange, Captain" she continued. "We have been acquainted for quite some time now, but I feel like I do not know anything about you except for what I have heard from others."
"There is not much to know I am afraid" he said sitting down on the sofa beside her. "But I shall be glad to tell you anything you want to hear."
"I was so sorry to hear about Miss Harville. I hope it does not pain you too much to hear of her. I just… I just want to tell you how terribly sorry I am for your loss."
"Thank you, Miss Musgrove" he answered. "It does give me pain, but the pain cannot be forever. At least so I am told." He sighed. "She was such an extraordinary creature. I do not think there ever was such a love as ours."
He rose from his seat and turned away. Louisa had seen that his eyes had been filled with tears, and felt for him. "I am sorry, Captain" she said. "I should never have spoken of it."
"It is quite alright, Miss Musgrove" he said. "Pray excuse me." With this he left the room leaving Louisa alone with her thoughts.
This was a kind of love she had hardly ever known to exist. To be loved by such a man. With such passion. Could there be anything more wonderful than that, she asked herself. She felt for the captain and was sorry to have inflicted pain on him. She resolved never to speak of Miss Harville again, but wanted at the same time to get better acquainted with Captain Benwick.
The very following evening an opportunity presented itself when Captain Benwick after dinner chose to sit down by her at the sofa and offered to continue his reading. She thanked him with a smile and he reopened the beautiful volume containing The Giaour.
For there the Rose, o'er crag or vale,
Sultana of the Nightingale,
The maid for whom his melody,
His thousand songs are heard on high,
Blooms blushing to her lover's tale:
His queen, the garden queen, his Rose,
Unbent by winds, unchill'd by snows,
Far from the winters of the west,
By every breeze and season blest,
Returns the sweets by nature given
In softest incense back to heaven;
And grateful yields that smiling sky
Her fairest hue and fragrant sigh.
And many a summer flower is there,
And many a shade that love might share,
And many a grotto, meant for rest,
That holds the pirate for a guest;
Whose bark in sheltering cove below
Lurks for the passing peaceful prow,
Till the gay mariner's guitar
Is heard, and seen the evening star;
Then stealing with the muffled oar,
Far shaded by the rocky shore,
Rush the night-prowlers on the prey,
And turn to groans his roundelay.
Strange --- that where Nature loved to trace,
As if the gods, a dwelling place,
And every charm and grace hath mix'd
Within the paradise she fix'd,
There man, enamour'd or distress,
Should mar it into wilderness,
And trample, brute-like, o'er each flower
That tasks not one laborious hour;
Nor claims the culture of his hand
To bloom along the fairy land,
But springs as to preclude his care,
And Sweetly woos him --- but to spare!
Strange --- that where all is peace beside,
There passion riots in her pride,
And lust and rapine wildly reign
To darken o'er the fair domain.
It is as though the fiends prevail'd
Against the seraphs they assail'd
And, fix'd on heavenly thrones, should dwell
The freed inheritors of hell;
So soft the scene, so form'd for joy,
So curst the tyrants that destroy !
"Oh, Captain!" she cried when he silenced. "I have never known that poetry could be so breathtakingly beautiful."
Henrietta looked up from her work with surprise written over all of her face. Louisa had never before expressed an interest in reading poetry, or reading anything for that matter. But since her sister looked happy and content she did not want to question it, so she kept quiet during the whole of the following conversation between Louisa and Captain Benwick in which Louisa asked him some serious questions regarding the verse, which he answered with a serene face.
This friendship which had started to form continued the following evenings when Captain Benwick read to Louisa from his favourite poems, the discussed them and she started to learn more and more about the various poems of their time. Her soul began to mend as well as her body, and she grew less nervous and much calmer. Henrietta was still troubled about her sister, for she felt as if she was quite a different person than before but she remembered her mother's wise words, tried not to worry and did not make any questions.
CHAPTER XXIV
With Louisa's continued improvements came thoughts to the Harvilles of returning the two girls to Uppercross, and reunite with their children. Upon discussion of the matter with the surgeon and Henrietta, Mrs. Musgrove at length settled on a day. Letters were sent to Uppercross and an extended invitation including Captain Benwick came in return.
The day before their intended journey Louisa and Captain Benwick again found themselves alone in the drawing room. "You are coming with us to Uppercross are you not, Captain?" Louisa asked him.
"I hardly know" he replied looking out of the window.
Louisa felt a sudden pang in her heart, and realised how important his company had become to her. She looked at him standing there, his eyes fixed at the horizon not saying a word. Her mouth felt dry and her limbs felt weak. What was this feeling? When he turned round and meet her eyes she suddenly realized.
I love him. How long have I loved him? How shall I… And such a man… He could never…
"Miss Musgrove" he said suddenly. "It is very fine out. Perhaps you would care to join me for some fresh air. That is… if you feel completely recovered."
"I would love to, Captain" she answered.
It was indeed a very fine day, even if it was December, and they walked slowly towards the sea. Louisa felt almost faint when walking by his side; his arm under hers and could not speak a word. He spoke of the weather and the state of the roads and anticipated that their journey the next day would be quite comfortable.
"I am sure that both you and your sister will be quite safe on the road under Harville's protection" he said.
"But surely, you must come with us" Louisa cried. "I am sure my parents are expecting you, and I…" She suddenly went quiet.
Captain Benwick stopped and turned to her. "Miss Musgrove" he said. "I fear it will not be possible for me to accompany you. I must tell you… It would not be right. I have for some time now felt. That is, I feel." He again was silent.
Louisa drew her breath and said: "Captain, will you not confide in me. As a friend." She had started to realize why he would not come with them. He mourned still for Miss Harville and he must know about her feelings for him. As the gentleman he was, he wanted to turn her down gently. She knew she had to be brave, even if her heart was bleeding, and not cause him any more pain than she already had.
"A friend!" he cried. "Oh, my dear Miss Musgrove! I could never look upon you as merely a friend. I love you!" he said suddenly.
"You love me?" Louisa looked upon him in amazement. "Oh, Captain!" Tears started to fill her eyes.
Finally he looked up at her, and seeing her eyes he said: "I am sorry Miss Musgrove. I should never have. Do not feel uneasy. I understand that you could never return my affection, but now you know why I cannot come to Uppercross with you tomorrow."
"But I do" she said with a smile through her tears. "I do return your affection. I just realized it this morning."
Much could be spoken on the subject, and since Captain Benwick is a man of words I feel that we can be quite confident that it was. At the end of their walk Louisa had with all heart agreed to become Mrs. Benwick and one can hardly imagine the happiness the Captain felt over this unexpected second chance of happiness.
The young couple agreed that Captain Benwick should indeed stay behind the rest of the party on the morrow, and instead send a letter to Mr. Musgrove asking his consent to marry his daughter. Louisa understood why he felt it must be so, but still she was unwilling to be separated from him even for a day or two. Now that she had finally realized what true love was she was most anxious to start her new life together with her beloved.
CHAPTER XXV
"Engaged to Captain Benwick?" Henrietta cried in utter amazement. "No, I cannot believe it. How can this be?"
Louisa smiled. "If you do not believe me, my dear, then I do not know who will. He loves me, Henrietta, and I love him."
Henrietta was in fact more surprised than she had ever been in her life, but she could see in her beloved sisters eyes that she was happy and that was all she really cared about.
The next morning the two sisters and the Harvilles set of for Uppercross. Captain Benwick had told Captain Harville of his engagement, and even if it gave Harville great pain thinking of his poor sister so soon forgotten, he was happy for his friend. Mrs. Harville had embraced Louisa and kissed her without a word. She felt strongly for the young woman whom she had nursed back to health and had for some time suspected the two young lovers feelings for each other.
On returning to Uppercross Louisa felt nervous. She wondered what her mother and father would say. What if Captain Benwick's proposal would not be acceptable to her father? Henrietta, who sat by her side, took her hand, squeezed it and whispered: "Do not feel uneasy Louisa. I am sure my father will be delighted."
Mr. Musgrove's reaction to the letter must be described as surprise. He had become a little acquainted with Captain Benwick when at Lyme, but had never pictured him as a suitor for any of his girls. But since there was nothing to object about neither the captains character or his situation in life, he immediately wrote a very kind letter in which he gave his heartfelt approval of the match and again invited the captain to join them in Uppercross.
Captain Benwick arrived as soon as one might expect and seeing their daughter together with the man of her choice eased all the worry they might have felt for her, and not many hours had passed when they both felt that no one could be better suited as her husband than Captain Benwick.
Louisa was now completely happy and spent her days in planning her future and her happiness was not diminished by the happy news concerning her sister. Charles Hayter had been applied to by a friend to hold a living for a youth who could not possibly claim it under many years; and that on the strength of this present income, with almost a certainty of something more permanent long before the term in question, the two families consented to the young people's wishes and their marriage could now be expected to take place in a few months.
Uppercross was full of the fuss surrounding the two girls impending marriages, and they were both happy, even if they showed it in different manners. Henrietta was as loud and spirited as ever but Louisa preferred to sit quietly in a corner with Captain Benwick by her side a book of verses in his hand. Much of what was going on in the house went by the young couple quite unnoticed.
CHAPTER XXVI
Captain Harville began thinking of going to Bath on business, and by way of doing something, as shooting was over, Charles Musgrove proposed coming with him, and Mrs. Harville seemed to like the idea of it very much, as an advantage to her husband; but Mary could not bear to be left, and made herself so unhappy about it, that for a day or two everything seemed to be in suspense, or at an end.
The business was taken up by Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove. Mrs. Musgrove had some old friends in Bath whom she wanted to see; it was thought a good opportunity for Henrietta and Louisa to come and buy wedding-clothes.
"Well girls, what do you say?" Mrs. Musgrove asked the two sisters after presenting the plan at the breakfast table one morning.
Henrietta readily agreed to the scheme, for she loved Bath and looked forward to buy her wedding-clothes. But Louisa did not seem to be as enchanted by the plan and simply bowed her head in quiet consent. Her mother observed her reaction and continued: "Louisa, do you think that you are quite well to travel so soon? It would be no trouble for your sister and I to procure wedding-clothes for you as well, you know."
"Oh, mother. I would be very happy to stay here if you do not mind" she replied. "I am quite well I assure you but I grow tired so easily and Bath is such a noisy place. And as for my wedding-clothes I assure you madam, there is no need for any extravagance. I can be very well fitted up with the maids' help here at home."
"The maids!" cried Henrietta.
Her mother silenced her with a look and continued to assure Louisa that she might stay at Uppercross if that was what she really wanted. "Perhaps" she continued with a smile, "we can persuade Mary to join us. I am sure she would be a great help."
Thus said everything was soon settled. Mrs. Musgrove brought Henrietta, Charles, Mary and Captain Harville to Bath and Louisa staid at Uppercross with her father, Captain Benwick, Mrs. Harville and her children.
This meant even calmer and at least almost lonely hours for Louisa and her captain, and they enjoyed it even more with the anticipation of soon having their own home.
Just a few days after Mrs. Musgrove and her party had left Uppercross came a letter to Louisa from Henrietta bearing the most interesting news.
Dear Louisa,
We have arrived well at Bath. I do wish you were here, but I can tell you that I have found the most beautiful muslin for your gown. I think I have done a good job choosing it for you, but that you must judge for yourself.
I have some amazing news to tell you. We have since arriving in Bath met up with Captain Wentworth again. I do not know if Captain Benwick has spoken to you about him, but at least he seemed to have heard of your engagement. We have seen quite a lot of him the last couple of days and he was even invited to an evening party yesterday at Sir Walter's.
This morning though the news are out. Captain Wentworth is to marry Anne Elliot! Have you ever heard such a thing? Who would have imagined such a thing? I am sure I have not. Apparently they were engaged once these eight years ago but broke it off and are now reunited.
We are all very happy for them of course. Mary takes a great pride in the match as one might imagine.
I hope that you are well, dear Louisa. Please give my love to my father, Mrs. Harville and Captain Benwick.
Yours &c. &c.
Henrietta
This was truly wonderful news. Louisa gave the letter to Captain Benwick to read and asked him when he had finished: "James, did you know about Captain Wentworth's earlier engagement?"
"No, that is" he replied, "I suspected some time ago that he had had his heart broken, but I had no idea that he had known Miss Elliot earlier, and definitely no idea that they had been engaged. But I am happy for them. I think that they will be very happy together. Perhaps almost as happy as us." With this he gave her one of his wonderful smiles, filled with love and Louisa felt how truly blessed she was in being so ardently loved by such a deserving man.
THE END.