ren’s Reviews > Persuasion > Status Update

"Anne did not wish for more of such looks and speeches. His cold politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything."

"These were some of the thoughts which occupied Anne, while her fingers were mechanically at work, proceeding for half an hour together, equally without error, and without consciousness. Once she felt that he was looking at herself, observing her altered features, perhaps, trying to trace in them the ruins of the face which had once charmed him; and once she knew that he must have spoken of her."

"The evening ended with dancing. On its being proposed, Anne offered her services, as usual; and though her eyes would sometimes fill with tears as she sat at the instrument, she was extremely glad to be employed, and desired nothing in return but to be unobserved."

"'I lived in perpetual fright at that time, and had all manner of imaginary complaints from not knowing what to do with myself, or when I should hear from him next; but as long as we could be together, nothing ever ailed me, and I never met with the smallest inconvenience.'
'Yes, indeed. There is nothing so bad as a separation.'"

"'When he had got a wife, he will sing a different tune.'
'Now I have done,' cried Captain Wentworth. 'When once married people begin to attack me with,--"Oh! you will think very differently, when you are married." I can only say, "No, I shall not;" and then they say again, "Yes, you will," and there is an end of it.'
He got up and moved away."

drama queen

"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.
'It is from feeling how impossible it is, with all one's efforts, and all one's sacrifices 58 make the accommodations on board such as women ought to have. I hate to hear of women on board; or, or to see them on board; and no ship under my command shall ever convey ladies.'"

incel

"... But it was too transient an indulgence of self-amusement to be detected by any who understood him less than herself; in another moment he was perfectly collected and serious, and almost instantly entered into conversation with her, in a low voice, about her son, doing it with so much sympathy and natural grace, as shewed and kindest consideration for all that was real and unabsurd in the parent's feelings."

"'Ah! it would have been a happy thing, if he had never left you. I assure you, Captain Wentworth, we are very sorry he ever left you.'
There was a momentary expression in his face at this speech, a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome mouth, which convinced Anne, that 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; ..."

"When he talked, she heard the same voice, and discerned the same mind."

"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."