Captain Wentworth's Diary Read Online Free PDF

to school, but when he is at home in the holidays he is getting beyond control. I am all for sending him into the Army, or better yet, the Navy. That will stop him trespassing on other people’s property . . .’

    ‘. . . he can climb any wall, no matter how high. A boy should be able to climb, and he’s so good at it, he never takes a tumble, but his father is always complaining . . .’

    ‘. . . going into our neighbours’ gardens and stealing apples ...’

    ‘. . . never takes anything from the tree, of course, it’s nothing but windfalls, but his father will make a fuss . . .’ she said.

    ‘. . . fighting with the other boys . . .’ remarked the father.

    ‘. . . very good at his boxing, I do think it is so important for a boy to know the gentlemanly arts. Ah, yes, my Dick’s a good boy . . .’

    ‘. . . and I intend to pack Dick off to the Army or Navy before the year is out, whether his mother likes it or not . . .’

    I began to laugh as I realized that the two sons were the same, viewed from a mother’s and a father’s point of view. I hoped Master Dick would not find himself in the Navy, where he would no doubt plague his captain—though if he was good at climbing he might, perhaps, be useful in the rigging!

    I was about to return my empty glass to a passing footman when I caught sight of something much more interesting out of the corner of my eye: Miss Anne Elliot. She was being ignored by her father and sister, who were congratulating each other on their looks, and was standing quietly by their sides.

    I went over to her.

    ‘Something has amused you,’ she said, when I had made my bow.

    I told her about the excellent and troublesome son, and she told me that the happy couple was Mr and Mrs Musgrove, who lived in the Great House at Uppercross, and were newly returned from Clifton. She further enlightened me that Dick was the boy who had trespassed on my brother’s property a few weeks ago.

    ‘I had no idea this was such a place for criminal activity. You must tell me more about it whilst we dance, for I need to be prepared,’ I said.

    ‘You have not asked me yet,’ she returned.

    ‘Would you do me the honour?’ I asked her.

    ‘Thank you,’ she said, making me a curtsey, and we went onto the floor in high spirits.

    I danced two dances with her, and found that we drew many eyes, some curious, some pleased, and some—those of Sir Walter and Miss Elliot—contemptuous. Anne took no notice of them, however, for she never faltered, and I found her company as well as her dancing exhilarating. We never stopped talking, about art, about music, about her work in the parish and my life at sea.

    I was forced to relinquish her hand to a lawyer, a dull fellow, when our dance was over, and then she danced with a baronet. I was far less pleased with this partner for her, and I found it hard to take my eyes from them.

    ‘You had better look elsewhere,’ said my brother, coming up to me. ‘Your attentions are starting to be marked.’

    ‘I may look at the dancers, I suppose. It is only what everyone else does.’

    ‘The dancers, yes, if it is all of them, but you do nothing but look at Miss Anne—and scowl at her partners, I might add.’

    ‘I do nothing of the sort.’ I tried to turn my eyes away from them, but found it impossible. ‘Who is he?’ I asked.

    ‘Sir Matthew Cruickshank. He is visiting relatives in the neighbourhood.’

    ‘So he is not resident here?’

    ‘No, he resides in Gloucestershire. He will be returning tomorrow.’

    ‘He looks a very agreeable man,’ I said, in high humour at the knowledge that he would soon be leaving, particularly as it was evident that he and Anne had exhausted their supply of pleasantries, and had nothing further to say to each other.

    ‘Will you be taking her in to supper?’ asked Edward.

    ‘Of course.’

    ‘Then make sure you talk to your neighbour at the other side of you as well,’ he cautioned. ‘You do not want