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Title
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The Accident
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Description
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Here we see Louisa lying on the ground after having jumped down some stairs while out for a walk. Captain Wentworth cradles her head. Louisa Musgrove is Charles’ youngest sister and is very headstrong. While jumping down the stairs she hits her head on the wall and goes unconscious. Louisa jumped once and landed safely on her feet, and enjoying the experience, she jumps again, this time hitting her head. Mary and Louisa’s older sister, Henrietta are hysterical, but Anne remains calm, directing Captain Benwick to go for a doctor, and Captain Wentworth to carry her to the Inn. Captain Wentworth feels guilty for Louisa’s fall, because she only wanted to jump after seeing him do so. He confides his feelings of guilt in Anne on their way home to the Musgroves’ estate, asking her opinion on how to break the news of the accident there. He also praised her for her capability in caring for Louisa. Anne is flattered he trusted her to confide in and valued her opinion. This scene occurs in chapter 12 as noted underneath the title of this image. The characters are shown in the traditional regency style, with Captain Wentworth wearing waistcoat, tailcoat, and knickers that stopped at the knee. He also wears the traditional navy bicorn hat. Louisa wears the regency style dress with an empire waist. Her hair is worn tied up, as was tradition for women after their coming out before the queen, signaling her entrance into society. Her bonnet lies on the ground next to her. Women at this time always wore bonnets to protect their faces from the sun while out for a walk. The regency period dated to the early nineteenth century (1811-1820) when George, Prince of Wales, later George IV (r. 1820-1830), reigned as regent for his mentally ill father, King George III (r. 1760-1820). The regency period is associated with the rise of neoclassicism in art and fashion. The same image appears as an insert between pages 104 and 104 for the Dent 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1897 editions of Persuasion.
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Image Creator
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William Cubit Cooke (engraver)
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Identifier
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mta:25588
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Source Name
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Persuasion
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Image
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