acharacter,thatnoinfluenceoveritcanbedependedon.Youareneversureofagoodimpressionbeingdurableeverybodymayswayit.Letthosewhowouldbehappybefirm.Hereisanut,”saidhe,catchingonedownfromanupperbough,“toexemplify:abeautifulglossynut,which,blessedwithoriginalstrength,hasoutlivedallthestormsofautumn.Notapuncture,notaweakspotanywhere.Thisnut,”hecontinued,withplayfulsolemnity,“whilesomanyofhisbrethrenhavefallenandbeentroddenunderfoot,isstillinpossessionofallthehappinessthatahazelnutcanbesupposedcapableof.”Thenreturningtohisformerearnesttone—“MyfirstwishforallwhomIaminterestedin,isthattheyshouldbefirm.IfLouisaMusgrovewouldbebeautifulandhappyinherNovemberoflife,shewillcherishallherpresentpowersofmind.”
Hehaddone,andwasunanswered.ItwouldhavesurprisedAnneifLouisacouldhavereadilyansweredsuchaspeech:wordsofsuchinterest,spokenwithsuchseriouswarmth!ShecouldimaginewhatLouisawasfeeling.Forherself,shefearedtomove,lestsheshouldbeseen.Whilesheremained,abushoflowramblinghollyprotectedher,andtheyweremovingon.Beforetheywerebeyondherhearing,however,Louisaspokeagain.
“Maryisgood-naturedenoughinmanyrespects,”saidshe“butshedoessometimesprovokemeexcessively,byhernonsenseandpride—theElliotpride.ShehasagreatdealtoomuchoftheElliotpride.WedosowishthatCharleshadmarriedAnneinstead.IsupposeyouknowhewantedtomarryAnne?”
Afteramoment’spause,CaptainWentworthsaid—
“Doyoumeanthatsherefusedhim?”
“Oh!yescertainly.”
“Whendidthathappen?”
“Idonotexactlyknow,forHenriettaandIwereatschoolatthetimebutIbelieveaboutayearbeforehemarriedMary.Iwishshehadacceptedhim.WeshouldallhavelikedheragreatdealbetterandpapaandmammaalwaysthinkitwashergreatfriendLadyRussell’sdoing,thatshedidnot.TheythinkCharlesmightnotbelearnedandbookishenoughtopleaseLadyRussell,andthattherefore,shepersuadedAnnetorefusehim.”
Thesoundswereretreating,andAnnedistinguishednomore.Herownemotionsstillkeptherfixed.Shehadmuchtorecoverfrom,beforeshecouldmove.Thelistener’sproverbialfatewasnotabsolutelyhersshehadheard