Mrs Smith’s enjoyments were not spoiled by this improvement of income[436]
, with some improvement of health, and the acquisition of such friends to be often with, for her cheerfulness and mental alacrity did not fail her; and while these prime supplies of good remained, she might have bid defiance even to greater accessions of worldly prosperity. She might have been absolutely rich and perfectly healthy, and yet be happy. Her spring of felicity was in the glow of her spirits, as her friend Anne’s was in the warmth of her heart. Anne was tenderness itself, and she had the full worth of it in Captain Wentworth’s affection. His profession was all that could ever make her friends wish that tenderness less, the dread of a future war all that could dim her sunshine. She gloried in being a sailor’s wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm[437] for belonging to that profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its national importance.Vocabulary
A
abode
abominate
acquiescence
acquittal
aflict
afluence
affront
aggravation
agitation
alacrity
alliance
allowance
allude
alteration
ancestry
anguish
animate
apprehension
archly
ardour
arrange
assiduous
assuage
asunder
atonement
augment
augur
avarice
avoid
avoidance
B
bait
banish
barouche
beforehand
benefit
benevolent
bequeath
betimes
bias
bid
blighted
brawn
brook
by-the-bye
C
candid
casement
cavil
cease
charitable
chasm
circumvent
coarse
collar-bone
combat
complaint
complaisance
complexion
compliance
compound
compunction
confer
conjunction
consolation
contemplation
contemptible
contend
contiguous
conversant
countenance
counterbalance
covet
cripple
curate
cure
curricle
curtail
D
dawdle
decrepitude
deduct
deference
degrading
dependence
desolate
diminish
discern
discourse
disdain
disinclination
disparity
dispensation
dissent
dissipation
dissuade
dote
dread