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ladies。 He had been engaged to Captain Harville’s sister； and was
now mourning her loss。 They had been a year or two waiting for
fortune and promotion。 Fortune came； his prize…money as
lieutenant being great；—promotion； too； came at last； but Fanny
Harville did not live to know it。 She had died the preceding
summer while he was at sea。 Captain Wentworth believed it
impossible for man to be more attached to woman than poor
Benwick had been to Fanny Harville； or to be more deeply
afflicted under the dreadful change。 He considered his disposition
as of the sort which must suffer heavily； uniting very strong
feelings with quiet； serious； and retiring manners； and a decided
taste for reading； and sedentary pursuits。 To finish the interest of
the story； the friendship between him and the Harvilles seemed； if
possible； augmented by the event which closed all their views of
alliance； and Captain Benwick was now living with them entirely。
Captain Harville had taken his present house for half a year； his
taste； and his health； and his fortune； all directing him to a
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residence inexpensive； and by the sea； and the grandeur of the
country； and the retirement of Lyme in the winter； appeared
exactly adapted to Captain Benwick’s state of mind。 The sympathy
and good…will excited towards Captain Benwick was very great。
“And yet；” said Anne to herself； as they now moved forward to
meet the party； “he has not； perhaps； a more sorrowing heart than
I have。 I cannot believe his prospects so blighted for ever。 He is
younger than I am； younger in feeling； if not in fact； younger as a
man。 He will rally again； and be happy with another。”
They all met； and were introduced。 Captain Harville was a tall；
dark man； with a sensible； benevolent countenance； a little lame；
and from strong features and want of health； looking much older
than Captain Wentworth。 Captain Benwick looked； and was； the
youngest of the three； and； compared with either of them； a little
man。 He had a pleasing face and a melancholy air； just as he ought
to have； and drew back from conversation。
Captain Harville； though not equalling Captain Wentworth in
manners； was a perfect gentleman； unaffected； warm； and
obliging。 Mrs。 Harville； a degree less polished than her husband；
seemed； however； to have the same good feelings； and nothing
could be more pleasant than their desire of considering the whole
party as friends of their own； because the friends of Captain
Wentworth； or more kindly hospitable than their entreaties for
their all promising to dine with them。 The dinner； already ordered
at the inn； was at last； though unwillingly； accepted as a excuse；
but they seemed almost hurt that Captain Wentworth should have
brought any such party to Lyme； without considering it as a thing
of course that they should dine with them。
There was so much attachment to Captain Wentworth in all
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this； and such a bewitching charm in a degree of hospitality so
uncommon； so unlike the usual style of give…and…take invitations；
and dinners of formality and display； that Anne felt her spirits not
likely to be benefited by an increasing acquaintance among his
brother…officers。 “These would have been all my friends；” was her
thought； and she had to struggle against a great tendency to
lowness。
On quitting the Cobb； they all went indoors with their new
friends； and found rooms so small as none but those who invite
from the heart could think capable of accommodating so many。
Anne had a moment’s astonishment on the subject herself； but it
was soon lost in the pleasanter feelings which sprang from the
sight of all the ingenious contrivances and nice arrangements of
Captain Harville； to turn the actual space to the best account； to
supply the deficiencies of lodging…house furniture； and defend the
windows and doors against the winter storms to be expected。 The
varieties in the fitting…up of the rooms； where the common
necessaries provided by the owner； in the common indifferent
plight； were contrasted with some few articles of a rare species of
wood； excellently worked up； and with something curious and
valuable from all the distant countries Captain Harville had
visited； were more than amusing to Anne； connected as it all was
with his profession； the fruit of its labours； the effect of its
influence on his habits； the picture of repose and domestic
happiness it presented； made it to her a something more； or less；
than gratification。
Captain Harville was no reader； but he had contrived excellent
accommodations； and fashioned very pretty shelves； for a tolerable
collection of well…bound volumes； the property of Captain
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Benwick。 His lameness prevented him from taking much exercise；
but a mind of usefulness and ingenuity seemed to furnish him with
constant employment within。 He drew； he varnished； he
carpentered； he glued； he made toys for the children； he fashioned
new netting…needles and pins with improvements； and if every
thing else was done； sat down to his large fishing…net at one corner
of the room。
Anne thought she left great happiness behind her when they
quitted the house； and Louisa； by whom she found herself
walking； burst forth into raptures of admiration and delight on the
character of the navy—their friendliness； their brotherliness； their
openness； their uprightness； protesting that she was convinced of
s