Overheard Conversations

Exercise 4: Adaptation of Persuasion

The fire from the candles burned steadily, throwing a soft and warm light on the bountifully arrayed table. Cakes, meats, and nuts were spread evenly about the table, all eaten to varying degrees as the dinner party drew towards the end of the meal. Soon it would be time to clear the table. I shifted, eager for them to finish and for the work to be done. Amiable prattle rolled around the room and Captain Wentworth, wearing the deep blue and shining gold of a military jacket, seemed to be relishing the attention of the table as he spoke of his military service. He was a strange man; another topic might have rendered him silent, tongue-tied or out of his depth, but on the topic of the military, he always had more to say. Already the women of the table were gazing at him, intent on his every word. He lapsed into a humorous tone, playing to his audience. “The admiralty likes to amuse itself by sending out a few hundred men in a ship barely fit for service.”

The topic, however, invariably seemed to turn to wives. Captain Wentworth tried not to scowl as Admiral Kroft less-than-casually said, “Did not you bring Mrs. Arbol and her children with you?” Admiral Kroft smiled in the irritating way superior officers have that is inescapably a precursor to some remark they know to be aimed particularly at upsetting the person in question. “This from a man famous for claiming he’ll never have a woman on his ship.”

The women of the table grew quite flustered. Captain Wentworth hastened to explain himself. “It’s from no lack of gallantry. Ships cannot be made suitable for parties of women.”

“Frederick, I’ve been on five,” Sophia Kroft said.

The Admiral’s face assumed that same expression, and Wentworth steadied himself in anticipation. “When he’s married,” the Admiral said, “He’ll sing a different tune. He’ll be grateful to anybody who will bring him his wife.”

Wentworth thought it best to pick his battles and left somewhat in a huff.

Anne watched him go. It was only after she had left that Anne found the courage to ask of Sophia, “You must have been a great traveler, mam.”

“I have crossed the Atlantic four times and been to the West Indies,” she said proudly, her eyes taking on a wistful look.

“Did you never suffer any sickness?”

“No. The only time that I ever imagined myself unwell or had any ideas of danger was the winter that I passed on my own when the admiral-- Captain Kroft then-- was away on the northern seas. That I did not like. As long as we could be together, nothing ever ailed me.”

It seemed clear to me that Anne wished Wentworth would have stayed to hear the rest of Sophia’s explanation, but she none the less found it to be satisfying.