Austen Said:

Doubtless it was so, and she could take no revenge, for he was not altered, or not for the worse. She had already acknowledged it to herself, and she could not think differently, let him think of her as he would. No: the years which had destroyed her youth and bloom had only given him a more glowing, manly, open look, in no respect lessening his personal advantages. She had seen the same Frederick Wentworth.

They were of sobering tendency; they allayed agitation; they composed, and consequently must make her happier.

He had not forgiven Anne Elliot. She had used him ill, deserted and disappointed him; and worse, she had shewn a feebleness of character in doing so, which his own decided, confident temper could not endure. She had given him up to oblige others. It had been the effect of over-persuasion. It had been weakness and timidity.

He had been most warmly attached to her, and had never seen a woman since whom he thought her equal; but, except from some natural sensation of curiosity, he had no desire of meeting her again. Her power with him was gone for ever.

He had a heart for either of the Miss Musgroves, if they could catch it; a heart, in short, for any pleasing young woman who came in his way, excepting Anne Elliot.

the utter impossibility, from her knowledge of his mind,

he could be unvisited by remembrance any more than herself.

There must be the same immediate association of thought, though she was very far from conceiving it to be of equal pain.

Once so much to each other! Now nothing! There had been a time, when of all the large party now filling the drawing-room at Uppercross, they would have found it most difficult to cease to speak to one another.

With the exception, perhaps, of Admiral and Mrs Croft, who seemed particularly attached and happy,

there could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved. Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement.

supposing sailors to be living on board without anything to eat, or any cook to dress it if there were, or any servant to wait, or any knife and fork to use.

of finding out the ships that Captain Wentworth had commanded.

she too had been one of the best friends man ever had.

instead of sharing in Mrs Musgrove's kind wishes, as to her son, he had probably been at some pains to get rid of him;

They were actually on the same sofa, for Mrs Musgrove had most readily made room for him; they were divided only by Mrs Musgrove.

he would never willingly admit any ladies on board a ship of his, excepting for a ball, or a visit, which a few hours might comprehend.

he had every thing to elevate him which general attention and deference, and especially the attention of all the young women, could do. The Miss Hayters, the females of the family of cousins already mentioned, were apparently admitted to the honour of being in love with him; and as for Henrietta and Louisa, they both seemed so entirely occupied by him, that nothing but the continued appearance of the most perfect good-will between themselves could have made it credible that they were not decided rivals.

If he were a little spoilt by such universal, such eager admiration, who could wonder?

perhaps, trying to trace in them the ruins of the face which had once charmed him;

His cold politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything.

resolve to remain where he was, and take all the charms and perfections of Edward's wife upon credit a little longer.

Captain Wentworth very much in the way.

Henrietta was perhaps the prettiest, Louisa had the higher spirits;

she knew not now, whether the more gentle or the more lively character were most likely to attract him.

As to Captain Wentworth's views, she deemed it of more consequence that he should know his own mind early enough not to be endangering the happiness of either sister, or impeaching his own honour, than that he should prefer Henrietta to Louisa, or Louisa to Henrietta. Either of them would, in all probability, make him an affectionate, good-humoured wife.

With regard to Charles Hayter, she had delicacy which must be pained by any lightness of conduct in a well-meaning young woman, and a heart to sympathize in any of the sufferings it occasioned; but if Henrietta found herself mistaken in the nature of her feelings, the alternation could not be understood too soon.

She had too old a regard for him to be so wholly estranged as might in two meetings extinguish every past hope, and leave him nothing to do but to keep away from Uppercross:

when such a man as Captain Wentworth was to be regarded as the probable cause. He had been absent only two Sundays, and when they parted, had left her interested, even to the height of his wishes, in his prospect of soon quitting his present curacy, and obtaining that of Uppercross instead. It had then seemed the object nearest her heart, that Dr Shirley, the rector,

should be quite fixed on engaging a curate; should make his curacy quite as good as he could afford, and should give Charles Hayter the promise of it. The advantage of his having to come only to Uppercross, instead of going six miles another way; of his having, in every respect, a better curacy; of his belonging to their dear Dr Shirley, and of dear, good Dr Shirley's being relieved from the duty which he could no longer get through without most injurious fatigue,

His kindness in stepping forward to her relief, the manner, the silence in which it had passed, the little particulars of the circumstance,

that he meant to avoid hearing her thanks, and rather sought to testify that her conversation was the last of his wants,

It was evident that Charles Hayter was not well inclined towards Captain Wentworth.

She was ashamed of herself, quite ashamed of being so nervous, so overcome by such a trifle;

it would have satisfied neither husband nor wife; for while she considered Louisa to be rather the favourite, she could not but think, as far as she might dare to judge from memory and experience, that Captain Wentworth was not in love with either.

They were more in love with him; yet there it was not love. It was a little fever of admiration; but it might, probably must, end in love with some. Charles Hayter seemed aware of being slighted, and yet Henrietta had sometimes the air of being divided between them.

There was no triumph, no pitiful triumph in his manner. He had, probably, never heard, and never thought of any claims of Charles Hayter. He was only wrong in accepting the attentions (for accepting must be the word) of two young women at once.

Charles Hayter was wise.

they were going to take a long walk,

Mary could not like to go with them;

the sort of necessity which the family habits seemed to produce, of everything being to be communicated, and everything being to be done together, however undesired and inconvenient.

as she might be useful in turning back with her sister, and lessening the interference in any plan of their own.

it was too late to retract,

He was more engaged with Louisa than with Henrietta. Louisa certainly put more forward for his notice than her sister.

their still being, in some spot or other.

words of such interest, spoken with such serious warmth!

there had been just that degree of feeling and curiosity about her in his manner

the Elliot pride

Yes; he had done it.

She was in the carriage, and