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hate to hear of women on board； or to see them on board； and no
ship under my command shall ever convey a family of ladies
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anywhere； if I can help it。”
This brought his sister upon him。
“Oh！ Frederick！—But I cannot believe it of you。—All idle
refinement！—Women may be as comfortable on board； as in the
best house in England。 I believe I have lived as much on board as
most women； and I know nothing superior to the accommodations
of a man…of…war。 I declare I have not a comfort or an indulgence
about me； even at Kellynch Hall；” （with a kind bow to Anne）；
“beyond what I always had in most of the ships I have lived in； and
they have been five altogether。”
“Nothing to the purpose；” replied her brother。 “You were living
with your husband； and were the only woman on board。”
“But you； yourself； brought Mrs。 Harville； her sister； her cousin；
and three children； round from Portsmouth to Plymouth。 Where
was this superfine； extraordinary sort of gallantry of yours then？”
“All merged in my friendship； Sophia。 I would assist any
brother officer’s wife that I could； and I would bring anything of
Harville’s from the world’s end； if he wanted it。 But do not imagine
that I did not feel it an evil in itself。”
“Depend upon it； they were all perfectly comfortable。”
“I might not like them the better for that perhaps。 Such a
number of women and children have no right to be comfortable on
board。”
“My dear Frederick； you are talking quite idly。 Pray； what
would become of us poor sailors’ wives； who often want to be
conveyed to one port or another； after our husbands； if everybody
had your feelings？”
“My feelings； you see； did not prevent my taking Mrs。 Harville
and all her family to Plymouth。”
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“But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman； and as
if women were all fine ladies； instead of rational creatures。 We
none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days。”
“Ah！ my dear；” said the Admiral； “when he has got a wife； he
will sing a different tune。 When he is married； if we have the good
luck to live to another war； we shall see him do as you and I； and a
great many others； have done。 We shall have him very thankful to
anybody that will bring him his wife。”
“Ay； that we shall。”
“Now I have done；” cried Captain Wentworth。 “When once
married people begin to attack me with； ‘Oh！ you will think very
differently； when you are married。’ I can only say； ‘No； I shall not；’
and then they say again； ‘Yes； you will；’ and there is an end of it。”
He got up and moved away。
“What a great traveller you must have been； ma’am！” said Mrs。
Musgrove to Mrs。 Croft。
“Pretty well； ma’am； in the fifteen years of my marriage； though
many women have done more。 I have crossed the Atlantic four
times； and have been once to the East Indies； and back again； and
only once； besides being in different places about home—Cork；
and Lisbon； and Gibraltar。 But I never went beyond the
Streights—and never was in the West Indies。 We do not call
Bermuda or Bahama； you know； the West Indies。”
Mrs。 Musgrove had not a word to say in dissent； she could not
accuse herself of having ever called them anything in the whole
course of her life。
“And I do assure you； ma’am；” pursued Mrs。 Croft； “that
nothing can exceed the accommodations of a man…of…war； I speak；
you know； of the higher rates。 When you come to a frigate； of
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course； you are more confined—though any reasonable woman
may be perfectly happy in one of them； and I can safely say； that
the happiest part of my life has been spent on board a ship。 While
we were together； you know； there was nothing to be feared。
Thank God！ I have always been blessed with excellent health； and
no climate disagrees with me。 A little disordered always the first
twenty…four hours of going to sea； but never knew what sickness
was afterwards。 The only time I ever really suffered in body or
mind； the only time that I ever fancied myself unwell； or had any
ideas of danger； was the winter that I passed by myself at Deal；
when the Admiral （Captain Croft then） was in the North Seas。 I
lived in perpetual fright at that time； and had all manner of
imaginary complaints from not knowing what to do with myself； or
when I should hear from him next； but as long as we could be
together； nothing ever ailed me； and I never met with the smallest
inconvenience。”
“Aye； to be sure。—Yes； indeed； oh yes！ I am quite of your
opinion； Mrs。 Croft；” was Mrs。 Musgrove’s hearty answer。 “There
is nothing so bad as a separation。 I am quite of your opinion。 I
know what it is； for Mr。 Musgrove always attends the assizes； and I
am so glad when they are over； and he is safe back again。”
The evening ended with dancing。 On its being proposed； Anne
offered her services； as usual； and though her eyes would
sometimes fill with tears as she sat at the instrument； she was
extremely glad to be employed； and desired nothing in return but
to be unobserved。
It was a merry； joyous party； and no one seemed in higher
spirits than Captain Wentworth。 She felt that he had every thing
to elevate him which general attention and deference； and
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especially the attention of all the young women； could do。 The
Miss