Chapter 4

           HewasnotMrWentworth,theformercurateofMonkford,howeversuspiciousappearancesmaybe,butaCaptainFrederickWentworth,hisbrother,whobeingmadecommanderinconsequenceoftheactionoffStDomingo,andnotimmediatelyemployed,hadcomeintoSomersetshire,inthesummerof1806;andhavingnoparentliving,foundahomeforhalfayearatMonkford.Hewas,atthattime,aremarkablyfineyoungman,withagreatdealofintelligence,spirit,andbrilliancy;andAnneanextremelyprettygirl,withgentleness,modesty,taste,andfeeling.Halfthesumofattraction,oneitherside,mighthavebeenenough,forhehadnothingtodo,andshehadhardlyanybodytolove;buttheencounterofsuchlavishrecommendationscouldnotfail.Theyweregraduallyacquainted,andwhenacquainted,rapidlyanddeeplyinlove.Itwouldbedifficulttosaywhichhadseenhighestperfectionintheother,orwhichhadbeenthehappiest:she,inreceivinghisdeclarationsandproposals,orheinhavingthemaccepted.

           Ashortperiodofexquisitefelicityfollowed,andbutashortone.Troublessoonarose.SirWalter,onbeingappliedto,withoutactuallywithholdinghisconsent,orsayingitshouldneverbe,gaveitallthenegativeofgreatastonishment,greatcoldness,greatsilence,andaprofessedresolutionofdoingnothingforhisdaughter.Hethoughtitaverydegradingalliance;andLadyRussell,thoughwithmoretemperedandpardonablepride,receiveditasamostunfortunateone.