orth,heneednotbeafraidofmentioningpoorDickbeforeme,foritwouldberatherapleasuretohearhimtalkedofbysuchagoodfriend.”
Charles,beingsomewhatmoremindfuloftheprobabilitiesofthecase,onlynoddedinreply,andwalkedaway.
ThegirlswerenowhuntingfortheLaconiaandCaptainWentworthcouldnotdenyhimselfthepleasureoftakingthepreciousvolumeintohisownhandstosavethemthetrouble,andoncemorereadaloudthelittlestatementofhernameandrate,andpresentnon-commissionedclass,observingoveritthatshetoohadbeenoneofthebestfriendsmaneverhad.
“Ah!thosewerepleasantdayswhenIhadtheLaconia!HowfastImademoneyinher.AfriendofmineandIhadsuchalovelycruisetogetherofftheWesternIslands.PoorHarville,sister!Youknowhowmuchhewantedmoney:worsethanmyself.Hehadawife.Excellentfellow.Ishallneverforgethishappiness.Hefeltitall,somuchforhersake.Iwishedforhimagainthenextsummer,whenIhadstillthesameluckintheMediterranean.”
“AndIamsure,Sir,”saidMrsMusgrove,“itwasaluckydayforus,whenyouwereputcaptainintothatship.Weshallneverforgetwhatyoudid.”
HerfeelingsmadeherspeaklowandCaptainWentworth,hearingonlyinpart,andprobablynothavingDickMusgroveatallnearhisthoughts,lookedratherinsuspense,andasifwaitingformore.
“Mybrother,”whisperedoneofthegirls“mammaisthinkingofpoorRichard.”
“Poordearfellow!”continuedMrsMusgrove“hewasgrownsosteady,andsuchanexcellentcorrespondent,whilehewasunderyourcare!Ah!itwouldhavebeenahappything,ifhehadneverleftyou.Iassureyou,CaptainWentworth,weareverysorryheeverleftyou.”
TherewasamomentaryexpressioninCaptainWentworth’sfaceatthisspeech,acertainglanceofhisbrighteye,andcurlofhishandsomemouth,whichconvincedAnne,thatinsteadofsharinginMrsMusgrove’skindwishes,astoherson,hehadprobablybeenatsomepainstogetridofhimbutitwastootransientanindulgenceofself-amusementtobedetectedbyanywhounderstoodhimlessthanherselfinanothermomenthewasperfectlycollectedandserious,andalmostinstantlyafterwardscominguptothesofa,onwhichs