Persuasion and Prayers Read-Along: Day 6

Welcome back! We're on Day 6 and beginning Week 2 of the Persuasion and Prayers Read-Along! You can follow along on this three-week discussion of Persuasion and The Prayers of Jane Austen by checking out the read-along tag or by clicking the button in the sidebar.

Today we're going to discuss chapters 9 and 10 of Persuasion. If you came prepared, go ahead and share your thoughts below! Otherwise, feel free to check in later today after you've had a chance to read today's chapters. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

P.S. If you're a blogger, please feel free to put together your own post using the button above and linking back to the Persuasion and Prayers Read-Along tag, if you'd prefer to participate in the discussion that way. :)

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Persuasion Chapters 9 and 10
Discussion Format: One quote to ponder, one observation, and one question for each day's reading.
Quote to Ponder

"This little circumstance seemed the completion of all that had gone before. She understood him. He could not forgive her, but he could not be unfeeling. Though condemning her for the past, and considering it with high and unjust resentment, though perfectly careless of her, and though becoming attached to another, still he could not see her suffer, without the desire of giving her relief" (emphasis added).

Honorable Mention (because I love autumn!):

"Autumn, that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness, that season which had drawn from every poet, worthy of being read, some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling."

Observation

Well, well, well!

There's a lot that could be noted about these two chapters - such as the way Anne feels like she couldn't possibly guess Captain Wentworth's tastes now (but really, she understands his nature and preferences deep down), or the way that Anne is forced to endure her sister's and brother-in-law's musings on whom Wentworth will choose (with Mary throwing in that bit about young women choosing what's best for the family), or the interesting way things are resolved between Henrietta and Charles.

But really, I just want to talk about Wentworth. I hope you feel the same! ;)

Wentworth is so very determined not to give Anne any chance whatsoever of reclaiming his affections - and thus not allowing her the opportunity to hurt him again, nor forcing himself to swallow his pride. But I love how clear it is to the reader how very aware Wentworth is of Anne's well-being and comfort. His mind may be telling his heart to ignore Anne, but his heart keeps acting on his need to see her cared for. Can I get a collective *swoon*?

The funny thing is, when I first read these lines...

"The something might be guessed by its effects. 'Miss Elliot, I am sure you are tired,' cried Mrs. Croft."

...my immediate reaction was, "No!! How could you? I hate you!"

Yes, I was rather mean to Wentworth. I thought for sure he was just trying to get rid of her - I guess because I hadn't picked up from the text that Anne really was tired. But when Anne admitted that he had seen her need, and I read that lovely paragraph about "his resolution to give her rest," all was forgiven.

This isn't much of an observation, is it? More like gushing. Sorry! I guess I'm just observing that Wentworth's heart is betraying him, and I hope things don't go too far with Louisa before he realizes the truth. :)

(And might I add that Louisa's little speech annoyed me? *sigh* How do guys like Wentworth not see right through that?)

Question

I have to ask, because I love autumn and I love the theme of "seasons," what connections do you see between the autumnal setting of chapter 10 and the current state of Anne and Wentworth's relationship?

Giveaway!

Don't forget to log your giveaway entries this week using the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win a hardcover copy of The Prayers of Jane Austen !

(Giveaway open to US residents only. Prize donated by the book's editor, Terry Glaspey. Thanks, Terry!)

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Which quote to ponder, observation, and question/response would you like to share?

Join us tomorrow to discuss chapters 11 and 12!