Austen Said:

Patterns of Diction in Jane Austen's Major Novels

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"But, could you be comfortable yourself, to be spending the whole evening away from the poor boy?"
"Well, if you do not think it too late to give notice for yourself, suppose you were to go, as well as your husband. Leave little Charles to my care. Mr and Mrs Musgrove cannot think it wrong while I remain with him."
They were gone,
to be happy, however oddly constructed such happiness might seem; as for herself, she was left with as many sensations of comfort, as were, perhaps, ever likely to be hers.
what was it to her if Frederick Wentworth were only half a mile distant, making himself agreeable to others?
Perhaps indifferent, if indifference could exist under such circumstances. He must be either indifferent or unwilling. Had he wished ever to see her again, he need not have waited till this time; he would have done what she could not but believe that in his place she should have done long ago, when events had been early giving him the independence which alone had been wanting.
He wished to avoid seeing her.
He had inquired after her,
slightly, as might suit a former slight acquaintance, seeming to acknowledge such as she had acknowledged, actuated, perhaps, by the same view of escaping introduction when they were to meet.
it would soon be over.
"It is over! it is over!"
"The worst is over!"
She had seen him. They had met. They had been once more in the same room.
Eight years, almost eight years had passed, since all had been given up. How absurd to be resuming the agitation which such an interval had banished into distance and indistinctness! What might not eight years do? Events of every description, changes, alienations, removals -- all, all must be comprised in it, and oblivion of the past -- how natural, how certain too! It included nearly a third part of her own life.
Now, how were his sentiments to be read? Was this like wishing to avoid her?
"Altered beyond his knowledge."
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.
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.
of finding out the ships that Captain Wentworth had commanded.
"Your first was the Asp, I remember; we will look for the Asp."
"But, Captain Wentworth,"
"how vexed you must have been when you came to the Asp, to see what an old thing they had given you."
"My brother,"
"mamma is thinking of poor Richard."
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 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;
"Oh, no; never; she has quite given up dancing. She had rather play. She is never tired of playing."
  • Novel: Persuasion
  • Character: Speaking together Miss Louisa Musgrove and MissHenriettaMusgrove
  • Link to text in chapter 8
  • Text ID: 00826
His cold politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything.
"It would not be a great match for her; but if Henrietta liked him,"
  • Novel: Persuasion
  • Character: Speaking together Miss Louisa Musgrove and MissHenriettaMusgrove
  • Link to text in chapter 9
  • Text ID: 00844
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.
"Well, I am very glad indeed: but I always thought you would have it; I always thought you sure. It did not appear to me that -- in short, you know, Dr Shirley must have a curate, and you had secured his promise. Is he coming, Louisa?"
"They are up stairs with my sister: they will be down in a few moments, I dare say,"
"How do you do? Will you not sit down? The others will be here presently."
"Walter,"
"get down this moment. You are extremely troublesome. I am very angry with you."
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.