dhewasgonedowntoEdward’s,andtherehehasbeeneversince.WehaveseennothingofhimsinceNovember.EvenSophycouldnotunderstandit.Butnow,thematterhastakenthestrangestturnofallforthisyounglady,thesameMissMusgrove,insteadofbeingtomarryFrederick,istomarryJamesBenwick.YouknowJamesBenwick.”
“Alittle.IamalittleacquaintedwithCaptainBenwick.”
“Well,sheistomarryhim.Nay,mostlikelytheyaremarriedalready,forIdonotknowwhattheyshouldwaitfor.”
“IthoughtCaptainBenwickaverypleasingyoungman,”saidAnne,“andIunderstandthathebearsanexcellentcharacter.”
“Oh!yes,yes,thereisnotawordtobesaidagainstJamesBenwick.Heisonlyacommander,itistrue,madelastsummer,andthesearebadtimesforgettingon,buthehasnotanotherfaultthatIknowof.Anexcellent,good-heartedfellow,Iassureyouaveryactive,zealousofficertoo,whichismorethanyouwouldthinkfor,perhaps,forthatsoftsortofmannerdoesnotdohimjustice.”
“Indeedyouaremistakenthere,sirIshouldneveraugurwantofspiritfromCaptainBenwick’smanners.Ithoughtthemparticularlypleasing,andIwillanswerforit,theywouldgenerallyplease.”
“Well,well,ladiesarethebestjudgesbutJamesBenwickisrathertoopianoformeandthoughverylikelyitisallourpartiality,SophyandIcannothelpthinkingFrederick’smannersbetterthanhis.ThereissomethingaboutFrederickmoretoourtaste.”
Annewascaught.Shehadonlymeanttoopposethetoocommonideaofspiritandgentlenessbeingincompatiblewitheachother,notatalltorepresentCaptainBenwick’smannersastheverybestthatcouldpossiblybeand,afteralittlehesitation,shewasbeginningtosay,“Iwasnotenteringintoanycomparisonofthetwofriends,”buttheAdmiralinterruptedherwith—
“Andthethingiscertainlytrue.Itisnotamerebitofgossip.WehaveitfromFrederickhimself.Hissisterhadaletterfromhimyesterday,inwhichhetellsusofit,andhehadjusthaditinaletterfromHarville,writtenuponthespot,fromUppercross.IfancytheyareallatUppercross.”
Thiswasanopportunitywhich