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character of the navy—their friendliness； their brotherliness； their
openness； their uprightness； protesting that she was convinced of
sailors having more worth and warmth than any other set of men
in England； that they only knew how to live； and they only
deserved to be respected and loved。
They went back to dress and dine； and so well had the scheme
answered already； that nothing was found amiss； though its being
“so entirely out of season；” and the “no thoroughfare of Lyme；”
and the “no expectation of company；” had brought many apologies
from the heads of the inn。
Anne found herself by this time growing so much more
hardened to being in Captain Wentworth’s company than she had
at first imagined could ever be； that the sitting down to the same
table with him now； and the interchange of the common civilities
attending on it—（they never got beyond）； was become a mere
nothing。
The nights were too dark for the ladies to meet again till the
morrow； but Captain Harville had promised them a visit in the
evening； and he came； bringing his friend also； which was more
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than had been expected； it having been agreed that Captain
Benwick had all the appearance of being oppressed by the
presence of so many strangers。 He ventured among them again；
however； though his spirits certainly did not seem fit for the mirth
of the party in general。
While Captains Wentworth and Harville led the talk on one side
of the room； and by recurring to former days； supplied anecdotes
in abundance to occupy and entertain the others； it fell to Anne’s
lot to be placed rather apart with Captain Benwick； and a very
good impulse of her nature obliged her to begin an acquaintance
with him。 He was shy； and disposed to abstraction； but the
engaging mildness of her countenance； and gentleness of her
manners； soon had their effect； and Anne was well repaid the first
trouble of exertion。 He was evidently a young man of considerable
taste in reading； though principally in poetry； and besides the
persuasion of having given him at least an evening’s indulgence in
the discussion of subjects； which his usual companions had
probably no concern in； she had the hope of being of real use to
him in some suggestions as to the duty and benefit of struggling
against affliction； which had naturally grown out of their
conversation。 For； though shy； he did not seem reserved； it had
rather the appearance of feelings glad to burst their usual
restraints； and having talked of poetry； the richness of the present
age； and gone through a brief comparison of opinion as to the first…
rate poets； trying to ascertain whether Marmion or The Lady of the
Lake were to be preferred； and how ranked the Giaour and The
Bride of Abydos； and moreover； how the Giaour was to be
pronounced； he showed himself so intimately acquainted with all
the tenderest songs of the one poet； and all the impassioned
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descriptions of hopeless agony of the other； he repeated； with such
tremulous feeling； the various lines which imaged a broken heart；
or a mind destroyed by wretchedness； and looked so entirely as if
he meant to be understood； that she ventured to hope he did not
always read only poetry； and to say； that she thought it was the
misfortune of poetry to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who
enjoyed it completely； and that the strong feelings which alone
could estimate it truly were the very feelings which ought to taste
it but sparingly。
His looks shewing him not pained； but pleased with this
allusion to his situation； she was emboldened to go on； and feeling
in herself the right of seniority of mind； she ventured to
recommend a larger allowance of prose in his daily study； and on
being requested to particularize； mentioned such works of our
best moralists； such collections of the finest letters； such memoirs
of characters of worth and suffering； as occurred to her at the
moment as calculated to rouse and fortify the mind by the highest
precepts； and the strongest examples of moral and religious
endurance。
Captain Benwick listened attentively； and seemed grateful for
the interest implied； and though with a shake of the head； and
sighs which declared his little faith in the efficacy of any books on
grief like his； noted down the names of those she recommended；
and promised to procure and read them。
When the evening was over； Anne could not but be amused at
the idea of her coming to Lyme to preach patience and resignation
to a young man whom she had never seen before； nor could she
help fearing； on more serious reflection； that； like many other
great moralists and preachers； she had been eloquent on a point in
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which her own conduct would ill bear examination。
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CHAPTER XII
nne and Henrietta； finding themselves the earliest of the
Aparty the next morning； agreed to stroll down to the sea
before breakfast。—They went to the sands； to watch the
flowing of the tide； which a fine south…easterly breeze was
bringing in with all the grandeur which so flat a shore admitted。
They praised the morning； gloried in the sea； sympathized in the
delight of the fresh…feeling breeze—and were silent； till Henrietta
suddenly began again； with；
“Oh！