HewasnotMrWentworth,theformercurateofMonkford,howeversuspiciousappearancesmaybe,butaCaptainFrederickWentworth,hisbrother,whobeingmadecommanderinconsequenceoftheactionoffStDomingo,andnotimmediatelyemployed,hadcomeintoSomersetshire,inthesummerof1806andhavingnoparentliving,foundahomeforhalfayearatMonkford.Hewas,atthattime,aremarkablyfineyoungman,withagreatdealofintelligence,spirit,andbrilliancyandAnneanextremelyprettygirl,withgentleness,modesty,taste,andfeeling.Halfthesumofattraction,oneitherside,mighthavebeenenough,forhehadnothingtodo,andshehadhardlyanybodytolovebuttheencounterofsuchlavishrecommendationscouldnotfail.Theyweregraduallyacquainted,andwhenacquainted,rapidlyanddeeplyinlove.Itwouldbedifficulttosaywhichhadseenhighestperfectionintheother,orwhichhadbeenthehappiest:she,inreceivinghisdeclarationsandproposals,orheinhavingthemaccepted.
Ashortperiodofexquisitefelicityfollowed,andbutashortone.Troublessoonarose.SirWalter,onbeingappliedto,withoutactuallywithholdinghisconsent,orsayingitshouldneverbe,gaveitallthenegativeofgreatastonishment,greatcoldness,greatsilence,andaprofessedresolutionofdoingnothingforhisdaughter.HethoughtitaverydegradingallianceandLadyRussell,thoughwithmoretemperedandpardonablepride,receiveditasamostunfortunateone.
AnneElliot,withallherclaimsofbirth,beauty,andmind,tothrowherselfawayatnineteeninvolveherselfatnineteeninanengagementwithayoungman,whohadnothingbuthimselftorecommendhim,andnohopesofattainingaffluence,butinthechancesofamostuncertainprofession,andnoconnexionstosecureevenhisfartherriseintheprofession,wouldbe,indeed,athrowingaway,whichshegrievedtothinkof!AnneElliot,soyoungknowntosofew,tobesnatchedoffbyastrangerwithoutallianceorfortuneorrathersunkbyhimintoastateofmostwearing,anxious,yout