ick’sstateofmind.Thesympathyandgood-willexcitedtowardsCaptainBenwickwasverygreat.
“Andyet,”saidAnnetoherself,astheynowmovedforwardtomeettheparty,“hehasnot,perhaps,amoresorrowingheartthanIhave.Icannotbelievehisprospectssoblightedforever.HeisyoungerthanIamyoungerinfeeling,ifnotinfactyoungerasaman.Hewillrallyagain,andbehappywithanother.”
Theyallmet,andwereintroduced.CaptainHarvillewasatall,darkman,withasensible,benevolentcountenancealittlelameandfromstrongfeaturesandwantofhealth,lookingmucholderthanCaptainWentworth.CaptainBenwicklooked,andwas,theyoungestofthethree,and,comparedwitheitherofthem,alittleman.Hehadapleasingfaceandamelancholyair,justasheoughttohave,anddrewbackfromconversation.
CaptainHarville,thoughnotequallingCaptainWentworthinmanners,wasaperfectgentleman,unaffected,warm,andobliging.MrsHarville,adegreelesspolishedthanherhusband,seemed,however,tohavethesamegoodfeelingsandnothingcouldbemorepleasantthantheirdesireofconsideringthewholepartyasfriendsoftheirown,becausethefriendsofCaptainWentworth,ormorekindlyhospitablethantheirentreatiesfortheirallpromisingtodinewiththem.Thedinner,alreadyorderedattheinn,wasatlast,thoughunwillingly,acceptedasaexcusebuttheyseemedalmosthurtthatCaptainWentworthshouldhavebroughtanysuchpartytoLyme,withoutconsideringitasathingofcoursethattheyshoulddinewiththem.
TherewassomuchattachmenttoCaptainWentworthinallthis,andsuchabewitchingcharminadegreeofhospitalitysouncommon,sounliketheusualstyleofgive-and-takeinvitations,anddinnersofformalityanddisplay,thatAnnefeltherspiritsnotlikelytobebenefitedbyanincreasingacquaintanceamonghisbrother-officers.“Thesewouldhavebeenallmyfriends,”washerthoughtandshehadtostruggleagainstagreattendencytolowness.
OnquittingtheCobb,theyallwentin-doorswiththeirnewfriends,andfoundroomssosmallasnonebutthosewhoinv