Jane Austen's Persuasion, Part II
Previously: Persuasion, Part I.
how to spend less money on same amount of nice things as before
where does money come from
find money for handsome baronets
money for handsomeness
MR. MUSGROVE: Anne, do you mind playing the piano while all the women dance with Mr. Wentworth?
Women love to dance, you know
It’s funny, I suppose you technically are a woman too, but one never thinks of you in that way, somehow
I think of you as a sort of helpful animal, like a dog that can tell you when a house is on fire
NARRATOR: Wentworth was to be credited for demonstrating compassion for a fat woman who was mourning her worthless son
ANNE ELLIOT: How kind Wentworth is being — and to a fat woman mourning her piece of shit dead son, whom nobody ever cared for while he was living!
NARRATOR: It’s difficult to take grief seriously when it comes from somebody who isn’t thin
ANNE ELLIOT: If only she were thin
How we might all feel for Mrs. Musgrove then!
NARRATOR: It’s like the old saying: Thinness breeds sympathy
MR. MUSGROVE: Do you know, I think Henrietta and Louisa are both equally interested in this Wentworth
MRS. MUSGROVE: Are they really? Isn’t Henrietta engaged?
MR. MUSGROVE: In some ways she is and in some ways she isn’t
I’ve never formally prevented Charles from paying her attention
In accordance with my “let’s wait and see how things shake out” parenting policy
I say we let them fight over it
see what happens
Charles is out of town anyways
MRS. MUSGROVE: I’ve always said that romantic competition is good for sisters
Gives them something in common, something to bond over
MR. MUSGROVE: And there’s something unsporting about leaving town before getting engaged — like leaving your man on base
MRS. MUSGROVE: Then it’s settled:
the girls will fight it out on their own, no quarter asked or given
Nothing sharpens your wits faster than a battle to the altar with a sibling or two
MARY: I wish to God Henrietta would think of her nephews before getting engaged willy-nilly to the first impoverished cousin who looks at her
Nobody ever thinks of their nephews anymore when it comes to getting married
Which of the Musgrove girls do you think Captain Wentworth is likeliest to marry, Anne?
ANNE: I’d like to stop having dinner from now on, I think…just start going to bed directly after lunch, if nobody minds
LOUISA: Hello…Just popping in to say hi real quick…
we’re about to take a long walk, back in a bit
MARY: What’s that supposed to mean? I don’t love long walks, is that the implication? Why would you come to my house just to inform me I’m incapable of sauntering? I love long walks. I was about to go on one myself not five minutes ago, probably longer than your walk, if it comes down to comparing the two.
Sit down while I get my shoes on. We’re all walking today
[At Winthrop]
MARY: That’s far enough. There’s no earthly reason for anyone to walk further than Winthrop. Someone had better be prepared to carry me home
CAPTAIN WENTWORTH: My sister and her husband must be enjoying this lovely weather during their carriage ride today
LOUISA: No yes that’s it exactly
because if I happened to be in love, as your sister loves her husband, I would rather be in a carriage ride with my husband than anywhere else on earth, even if it killed me. I would not even care if I died as long as I were in my husband’s carriage
CAPTAIN WENTWORTH: That’s very admirable
[A pause]
LOUISA: Incidentally my sister almost changed her mind about visiting our cousins
I know that you feel the same way I do about people who change their minds and I told her to never change her mind and that I will never change my mind and that the best part of having a mind is never changing it
and being steadfast and resolute, like a ship in the Navy
I’m just like you and always have been
CAPTAIN WENTWORTH: Well, I think that’s terrific. And I hope you will always be steadfast, and that you will teach your sister to be firm…like this hazelnut here
ADMIRAL CROFT: Anne! How nice to see you here. You’re just in time to join us in speculating which of the young women in this neighborhood are likeliest to marry Captain Wentworth
I’m not sure why, but I always think of you as a helpful dog in such situations…like one of those smart and specially trained dogs who know how to count, and evaluate statistics, that they show at court sometimes
there are so many delightful girls in this neighborhood I hardly know which one he will marry first!
MRS. CROFT: I don’t think I’d go quite that far.
I mean, there are girls living here
but more than that I’m not prepared to say
and I think of Anne as a very highly trained, very old pony that works for the circus, or used to
or a military band
an old horse that’s seen a lot and maybe knows how to play a few notes on the trumpet
[Image via]
This series is perfection. Anne definitely has Big old horse that’s seen a lot and maybe knows how to play a few notes on the trumpet Energy vibes.