[Man is more robust than woman, but he is not longer lived; which exactly explains my view of the nature of their attachments., As it was, he did nothing with much zeal, but sport; and his time was otherwise trifled away, without benefit from books or anything else., She had no resources for solitude; and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot self-importance, was very prone to add to every other distress that of fancying herself neglected and ill-used., After a short pause, Mr Shepherd presumed to say-- "In all these cases, there are established usages which make everything plain and easy between landlord and tenant., It is a thing of course among us, that every man is refused, till he offers., I have travelled so little, that every fresh place would be interesting to me; but there is real beauty at Lyme; and in short" (with a faint blush at some recollections), "altogether my impressions of the place are very agreeable.", She knew it well; and she remembered another person's look also., Mrs Clay had freckles, and a projecting tooth, and a clumsy wrist, which he was continually making severe remarks upon, in her absence; but she was young, and certainly altogether well-looking, and possessed, in an acute mind and assiduous pleasing manners, infinitely more dangerous attractions than any merely personal might have been., In one point, her feelings were relieved by this knowledge of Mr Elliot., She cared not for Mrs Clay, and had nothing to blush for in the public manners of her father and sister., Anne replied, and spoke in defence of the performance so well, and yet in allowance for his feelings so pleasantly, that his countenance improved, and he replied again with almost a smile., Mr Elliot has sense to understand the value of such a woman., His value for rank and connexion she perceived was greater than hers., She looked down very decidedly upon the Hayters, and thought it would be quite a misfortune to have the existing connection between the families renewed--very sad for herself and her children., "You will stay, I am sure; you will stay and nurse her;" cried he, turning to her and speaking with a glow, and yet a gentleness, which seemed almost restoring the past., That evening seemed to be made up of exquisite moments., The folly of the means they often employ is only to be equalled by the folly of what they have in view.", I had no reason to believe her of less authority now., We are always meeting with some old friend or other; the streets full of them every morning; sure to have plenty of chat; and then we get away from them all, and shut ourselves in our lodgings, and draw in our chairs, and are snug as if we were at Kellynch, ay, or as we used to be even at North Yarmouth and Deal., I know you love a play; and there is room for us all., She gave him a short account of her party and business at Lyme., Indeed!, She immediately felt how reasonable it was, that Mrs Croft should be thinking and speaking of Edward, and not of Frederick; and with shame at her own forgetfulness applied herself to the knowledge of their former neighbour's present state with proper interest., But I beg your pardon; I have interrupted you., Anne sighed and blushed and smiled, in pity and disdain, either at her friend or herself., I believe I have lived as much on board as most women, and I know nothing superior to the accommodations of a man-of-war., He had even refused one regular invitation to dinner; and having been found on the occasion by Mr Musgrove with some large books before him, Mr and Mrs Musgrove were sure all could not be right, and talked, with grave faces, of his studying himself to death., And under such a supposition, which would have been most miserable, when time had disclosed all, too late?, " Mary's declaration was, "I hate sending the children to the Great House, though their grandmamma is always wanting to see them, for she humours and indulges them to such a degree, and gives them so much trash and sweet things, that they are sure to come back sick and cross for the rest of the day.", She has a great deal too much of the Elliot pride., I dare say we shall have nothing to distress us., Lady Russell could not hear the door-bell without feeling that it might be his herald; nor could Anne return from any stroll of solitary indulgence in her father's grounds, or any visit of charity in the village, without wondering whether she might see him or hear of him., I knew that we should either go to the bottom together, or that she would be the making of me; and I never had two days of foul weather all the time I was at sea in her; and after taking privateers enough to be very entertaining, I had the good luck in my passage home the next autumn, to fall in with the very French frigate I wanted., In her own room, she tried to comprehend it., ", We are not all born to be handsome., Chapter 3 "I must take leave to observe, Sir Walter," said Mr Shepherd one morning at Kellynch Hall, as he laid down the newspaper, "that the present juncture is much in our favour., All equality of alliance must rest with Elizabeth, for Mary had merely connected herself with an old country family of respectability and large fortune, and had therefore given all the honour and received none: Elizabeth would, one day or other, marry suitably., "He certainly means to have one or other of those two girls, Sophy," said the Admiral; "but there is no saying which., To me, who live so much alone, her conversation, I assure you, is a treat., From thus listening and thinking, she was roused by a whisper of Mrs Musgrove's who, overcome by fond regrets, could not help saying-- "Ah!, I must say it is very unfeeling of him to be running away from his poor little boy., I cannot pretend to remember it, but it was something very fine, When we came back from Minehead he was gone down to Edward's, and there he has been ever since., Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted., "I love your indignation," said he; "it is very natural., Chapter 16, Your father might have asked us to dinner, I think, if he had wanted to see us., In Lady Russell's view, it was perfectly natural that Mr Elliot, at a mature time of life, should feel it a most desirable object, and what would very generally recommend him among all sensible people, to be on good terms with the head of his family; the simplest process in the world of time upon a head naturally clear, and only erring in the heyday of youth., Oh!, As soon as they were out of sight, the ladies of Captain Wentworth's party began talking of them. ", The letter, with a direction hardly legible, to "Miss A. E.--," was evidently the one which he had been folding so hastily., How glad they had been to hear papa invite him to stay dinner, how sorry when he said it was quite out of his power, and how glad again when he had promised in reply to papa and mamma's farther pressing invitations to come and dine with them on the morrow--actually on the morrow; and he had promised it in so pleasant a manner, as if he felt all the motive of their attention just as he ought., "I hope I shall remember, in future," said Lady Russell, as soon as they were reseated in the carriage, "not to call at Uppercross in the Christmas holidays., "No, no!, There was nothing less for Lady Russell to do, than to admit that she had been pretty completely wrong, and to take up a new set of opinions and of hopes., it is Admiral Baldwin., Chapter 24, "You have asserted nothing contradictory to what Mr Elliot appeared to be some years ago., Anxious to omit no possible precaution, Anne struggled, and said-- "I am afraid, ma'am, that it is not perfectly understood., She had learnt, in the last ten minutes, more of his feelings towards Louisa, more of all his feelings than she dared to think of; and she gave herself up to the demands of the party, to the needful civilities of the moment, with exquisite, though agitated sensations., At last-- "I beg your pardon, my dear Miss Elliot," she cried, in her natural tone of cordiality, "I beg your pardon for the short answers I have been giving you, but I have been uncertain what I ought to do., You are always labouring and toiling, exposed to every risk and hardship., There had been a time, when of all the large party now filling the drawing-room at Uppercross, they would have found it most difficult to cease to speak to one another., Anne found a nice seat for her, on a dry sunny bank, under the hedge-row, in which she had no doubt of their still being, in some spot or other., To your fine mind, I well know the sight of beauty is a real gratification.", When I have made up my mind, I have made it; and Henrietta seemed entirely to have made up hers to call at Winthrop to-day; and yet, she was as near giving it up, out of nonsensical complaisance!", I little thought then--, Chapter 1, But, Anne, only conceive how extraordinary!, It was evident that the report concerning her had spread, and a short pause succeeded, which seemed to ensure that it would now spread farther. ", Oh! those things are too common., Every attention is due to Mr Elliot., I am more curious to know why he should be so different now.", He had distinguished himself, and early gained the other step in rank, and must now, by successive captures, have made a handsome fortune., How is Mary looking?" said Sir Walter, in the height of his good humour., There were many things to be taken into the account., Anne, amused in spite of herself, was rather distressed for an answer, and the Admiral, fearing he might not have been civil enough, took up the subject again, to say-- "The next time you write to your good father, Miss Elliot, pray give him my compliments and Mrs Croft's, and say that we are settled here quite to our liking, and have no fault at all to find with the place., Her jealous eye was satisfied in one particular., The something might be guessed by its effects. ", This could not be pardoned., Where can you look for a more suitable match?, It is a pity you cannot put your sister in the way of managing them., They had Mr Elliot too., He would go, though I told him how ill I was., She generally thought he would come, because she generally thought he ought; but it was a case which she could not so shape into any positive act of duty or discretion, as inevitably to defy the suggestions of very opposite feelings., I found them on the most friendly terms when I arrived.", Oh no; as to leaving the little boy," both father and mother were in much too strong and recent alarm to bear the thought; and Anne, in the joy of the escape, could not help adding her warm protestations to theirs., She was sure of a pleasant reception; and her friend seemed this morning particularly obliged to her for coming, seemed hardly to have expected her, though it had been an appointment., She had too old a regard for him to be so wholly estranged as might in two meetings extinguish every past hope, and leave him nothing to do but to keep away from Uppercross: but there was such a change as became very alarming, when such a man as Captain Wentworth was to be regarded as the probable cause., "I suspect," said Sir Walter coolly, "that Admiral Croft will be best known in Bath as the renter of Kellynch Hall., To-night we may have the pleasure of all meeting again at your party," (turning to Anne.), They were wretched comforters for one another.", but no matter., He has been running after them, too, long enough, one would think, to make up his mind., However, I have determined; I think I am right; I think you ought to be made acquainted with Mr Elliot's real character., He had no concealments with me., Anne could command herself enough to receive that look, and not repulsively., They had met., But the rain was also a mere trifle to Mrs Clay; she would hardly allow it even to drop at all, and her boots were so thick!, I used to think she had some taste in dress, but I was ashamed of her at the concert., One morning, about this time Charles Musgrove and Captain Wentworth being gone a-shooting together, as the sisters in the Cottage were sitting quietly at work, they were visited at the window by the sisters from the Mansion-house., Lady Russell listened, and looked, and made only this cautious reply:--"Elizabeth!, These were thoughts, with their attendant visions, which occupied and flurried her too much to leave her any power of observation; and she passed along the room without having a glimpse of him, without even trying to discern him., "I could manage them very well, if it were not for Mary's interference," was what Anne often heard him say, and had a good deal of faith in; but when listening in turn to Mary's reproach of "Charles spoils the children so that I cannot get them into any order," she never had the smallest temptation to say, "Very true.", She could not imagine a man more exactly what he ought to be than Mr Elliot; nor did she ever enjoy a sweeter feeling than the hope of seeing him receive the hand of her beloved Anne in Kellynch church, in the course of the following autumn., They seemed deep in talk., She knew, that when he now took up the Baronetage, it was to drive the heavy bills of his tradespeople, and the unwelcome hints of Mr Shepherd, his agent, from his thoughts., I am afraid of her, as I have told you before, quite afraid of her, because she is so very clever; but I respect her amazingly, and wish we had such a neighbour at Uppercross.", You need not tell me that you had a pleasant evening., Well, it would serve to cure him of an absurd practice of never asking a question at an inn, which he had adopted, when quite a young man, on the principal of its being very ungenteel to be curious. ", Little Charles does not mind a word I say, and Walter is growing quite as bad.", I will only tell you what I have found him., They described the drawing-room window-curtains of one of the houses on this side of the way, and this part of the street, as being the handsomest and best hung of any in Bath, but could not recollect the exact number, and I have been trying to find out which it could be; but I confess I can see no curtains hereabouts that answer their description.", " The sounds were retreating, and Anne distinguished no more., I was hers in honour if she wished it., He did not come however., It now became necessary for the party to consider what was best to be done, as to their general situation., I have been making a duplicate of the catalogue of my father's books and pictures., As soon as he could, he began to talk to her of Lyme, wanting to compare opinions respecting the place, but especially wanting to speak of the circumstance of their happening to be guests in the same inn at the same time; to give his own route, understand something of hers, and regret that he should have lost such an opportunity of paying his respects to her., "I wish I had any name but Elliot., she, in receiving his declarations and proposals, or he in having them accepted., I should have thought your last impressions of Lyme must have been strong disgust.", I do not reckon the Hayters as anybody., Lady Russell let this pass, and only said in rejoinder, "I own that to be able to regard you as the future mistress of Kellynch, the future Lady Elliot, to look forward and see you occupying your dear mother's place, succeeding to all her rights, and all her popularity, as well as to all her virtues, would be the highest possible gratification to me., But indeed, my dear, you need not be uneasy., cried Mary; "it must be our cousin; it must be our Mr Elliot, it must, indeed!, and to arrive with some degree of hope?, Anne's good-will, however, was not to be lessened by what she heard., At first, they were capable of nothing more to the purpose than such exclamations; but, after a while, Captain Wentworth, exerting himself, said-- "We must be decided, and without the loss of another minute., You must be a great deal too happy to care for Uppercross, which, as you well know, affords little to write about., The listener's proverbial fate was not absolutely hers; she had heard no evil of herself, but she had heard a great deal of very painful import., While her father spoke, there was a knock at the door., Anne enquired after Captain Benwick, Mary's face was clouded directly., While Captains Wentworth and Harville led the talk on one side of the room, and by recurring to former days, supplied anecdotes in abundance to occupy and entertain the others, it fell to Anne's lot to be placed rather apart with Captain Benwick; and a very good impulse of her nature obliged her to begin an acquaintance with him., The subjects of which her heart had been full on leaving Kellynch, and which she had felt slighted, and been compelled to smother among the Musgroves, were now become but of secondary interest., But just now she could think only of Captain Wentworth., The head had received a severe contusion, but he had seen greater injuries recovered from: he was by no means hopeless; he spoke cheerfully., You can make little Charles do anything; he always minds you at a word., I have been acquainted with you by character many years., We are not asked to dine with them, however, till the day after, Mrs Musgrove is so afraid of her being fatigued by the journey, which is not very likely, considering the care that will be taken of her; and it would be much more convenient to me to dine there to-morrow., She spoke, and seemed only to offend., The Admiral wound it up summarily by exclaiming--, A very few days more, and Captain Wentworth was known to be at Kellynch, and Mr Musgrove had called on him, and come back warm in his praise, and he was engaged with the Crofts to dine at Uppercross, by the end of another week., "Oh! well!", She could not, however, reach such a degree of certainty, as not to be anxious to hear whether anything had been said on the subject at the other house, where the Crofts had previously been calling., She did not mean, however, to derive much more from it to gratify her vanity, than Mary might have allowed., I can leave them at the Great House very well, for a month or six weeks., She was put down in Camden Place; and Lady Russell then drove to her own lodgings, in Rivers Street., Anne presumed, however, still to smile about it, and at last to mention "Elizabeth.", " Anne was still in the lane; and though instinctively beginning to decline, she was not allowed to proceed., An ancient family to be so driven away!, He gave her to understand that he had looked at her with some earnestness., He never even believed himself to see her equal., I forget what we are to have next," turning to the bill. ", That was a point which Anne had not been able to avoid suspecting before; and instead of drawing the same conclusion as Mary, from the present course of events, they served only to confirm the idea of his having felt some dawning of tenderness toward herself., He will be here in a moment, I am sure., She felt its application to herself, felt it in a nervous thrill all over her; and at the same moment that her eyes instinctively glanced towards the distant table, Captain Wentworth's pen ceased to move, his head was raised, pausing, listening, and he turned round the next instant to give a look, one quick, conscious look at her., A very fine woman with a large fortune, in love with him!, She began not to understand a word they said, and was obliged to plead indisposition and excuse herself., In music she had been always used to feel alone in the world; and Mr and Mrs Musgrove's fond partiality for their own daughters' performance, and total indifference to any other person's, gave her much more pleasure for their sakes, than mortification for her own., His lameness prevented him from taking much exercise; but a mind of usefulness and ingenuity seemed to furnish him with constant employment within., How quick come the reasons for approving what we like!, Nothing seemed amiss on the side of the Great House family, which was generally, as Anne very well knew, the least to blame., I declare I had no idea!, One day only had passed since Anne's conversation with Mrs Smith; but a keener interest had succeeded, and she was now so little touched by Mr Elliot's conduct, except by its effects in one quarter, that it became a matter of course the next morning, still to defer her explanatory visit in Rivers Street., Alarming sounds were heard; other visitors approached, and the door was thrown open for Sir Walter and Miss Elliot, whose entrance seemed to give a general chill., Captain Wentworth recollected him perfectly., Then there would always be company for them., In a worldly view, he had nothing to gain by being on terms with Sir Walter; nothing to risk by a state of variance., Her brother's return was the first comfort; he could take best care of his wife; and the second blessing was the arrival of the apothecary., This was felt to be a considerable amendment; and though they all met at the Great House at rather an early breakfast hour, and set off very punctually, it was so much past noon before the two carriages, Mr Musgrove's coach containing the four ladies, and Charles's curricle, in which he drove Captain Wentworth, were descending the long hill into Lyme, and entering upon the still steeper street of the town itself, that it was very evident they would not have more than time for looking about them, before the light and warmth of the day were gone., Sir Frederick and Lady Wentworth!, She was thinking only of the last half hour, and as they passed to their seats, her mind took a hasty range over it., Their union, she believed, could not divide her more from other men, than their final separation., Lady Russell and Mrs Croft were very well pleased with each other: but the acquaintance which this visit began was fated not to proceed far at present; for when it was returned, the Crofts announced themselves to be going away for a few weeks, to visit their connexions in the north of the county, and probably might not be at home again before Lady Russell would be removing to Bath., One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence there was her being treated with too much confidence by all parties, and being too much in the secret of the complaints of each house., There was a numerous family; but the only two grown up, excepting Charles, were Henrietta and Louisa, young ladies of nineteen and twenty, who had brought from school at Exeter all the usual stock of accomplishments, and were now like thousands of other young ladies, living to be fashionable, happy, and merry., By all their calculations there was just time for this; but as they drew near the Cobb, there was such a general wish to walk along it once more, all were so inclined, and Louisa soon grew so determined, that the difference of a quarter of an hour, it was found, would be no difference at all; so with all the kind leave-taking, and all the kind interchange of invitations and promises which may be imagined, they parted from Captain and Mrs Harville at their own door, and still accompanied by Captain Benwick, who seemed to cling to them to the last, proceeded to make the proper adieus to the Cobb., "I am going home, and you have an engagement with your friend., There was no triumph, no pitiful triumph in his manner., screamed Mary, catching hold of her husband, and contributing with his own horror to make him immoveable; and in another moment, Henrietta, sinking under the conviction, lost her senses too, and would have fallen on the steps, but for Captain Benwick and Anne, who caught and supported her between them., Only think of Elizabeth's including everybody!", She had been the only one of the set absent, for Sir Walter and Elizabeth had not only been quite at her ladyship's service themselves, but had actually been happy to be employed by her in collecting others, and had been at the trouble of inviting both Lady Russell and Mr Elliot; and Mr Elliot had made a point of leaving Colonel Wallis early, and Lady Russell had fresh arranged all her evening engagements in order to wait on her., They brought with them their country habit of being almost always together., He was to be introduced, and Mrs Wallis was to be introduced, and everybody was to be introduced., "Ah! You make the most of it, I know," cried Louisa, "but if it were really so, I should do just the same in her place., I was at Plymouth dreading to hear of him; he sent in letters, but the Grappler was under orders for Portsmouth., " Anne was considering whether she should venture to suggest that a gown, or a cap, would not be liable to any such misuse, when a knock at the door suspended everything. ", We shall never forget what you did.", I have had all my own little concerns to arrange, books and music to divide, and all my trunks to repack, from not having understood in time what was intended as to the waggons: and one thing I have had to do, Mary, of a more trying nature: going to almost every house in the parish, as a sort of take-leave., I am sure you will agree with me.", "You sent me such a good account of yourself on Thursday!", Charles is out shooting., "I mean to go with you, Charles, for I am of no more use at home than you are., "I do not wonder Captain Wentworth is delighted!, It was, perhaps, one of those cases in which advice is good or bad only as the event decides; and for myself, I certainly never should, in any circumstance of tolerable similarity, give such advice., The force of habit was to be added.", He had a pleasing face and a melancholy air, just as he ought to have, and drew back from conversation., If you look across the street, you will see Admiral Brand coming down and his brother., "But how shall we prove anything?", "There is nothing so bad as a separation., "You will not find anything very agreeable in him, I assure you, ma'am., He had never walked anywhere arm-in-arm with Colonel Wallis (who was a fine military figure, though sandy-haired) without observing that every woman's eye was upon him; every woman's eye was sure to be upon Colonel Wallis.", A friend of mine, Chapter 5, Lady Russell was now perfectly decided in her opinion of Mr Elliot., She had come to Bath on that account, and was now in lodgings near the hot baths, living in a very humble way, unable even to afford herself the comfort of a servant, and of course almost excluded from society., Well might Charles wonder how Captain Wentworth would feel!, Do not you, Anne?, The time now approached for Lady Russell's return: the day was even fixed; and Anne, being engaged to join her as soon as she was resettled, was looking forward to an early removal to Kellynch, and beginning to think how her own comfort was likely to be affected by it., What a pity that we should not have been introduced to each other!, Mr Elliot, and his friends in Marlborough Buildings, were talked of the whole evening. ", The evening ended with dancing., And yet, a few minutes afterwards, she felt as if their being in company with each other, under their present circumstances, could only be exposing them to inadvertencies and misconstructions of the most mischievous kind. ", It was the beginning of February; and Anne, having been a month in Bath, was growing very eager for news from Uppercross and Lyme., He longed to see her., Oh!, I wonder where that boat was built!", I could have no other pleasure., These would have been all my friends," was her thought; and she had to struggle against a great tendency to lowness., These convictions must unquestionably have their own pain, and severe was its kind; but they precluded that pain which Lady Russell would suffer in entering the house again, and returning through the well-known apartments., Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting, and the rapid increase of the crow's foot about Lady Russell's temples had long been a distress to him., "But I ought to have looked about me more," said Anne, conscious while she spoke that there had in fact been no want of looking about, that the object only had been deficient. ", "I thought Captain Benwick a very pleasing young man," said Anne, "and I understand that he bears an excellent character.", Anne was the nearest to him, and making yet a little advance, she instantly spoke., In marrying a man indifferent to me, all risk would have been incurred, and all duty violated.", He ought not to be supposed to be paying his addresses to any one.", In mourning, you see, just as our Mr Elliot must be., Anne did not shrink from it; on the contrary, she truly felt as she said, in observing--, There was consciousness of some sort or other., That's the worst of him.", Shocked as Captain Harville was, he brought senses and nerves that could be instantly useful; and a look between him and his wife decided what was to be done., "The last hours were certainly very painful," replied Anne; "but when pain is over, the remembrance of it often becomes a pleasure., He could not forgive her, but he could not be unfeeling., Something so formal and arrange in her air!, She had, while a very young girl, as soon as she had known him to be, in the event of her having no brother, the future baronet, meant to marry him, and her father had always meant that she should., "Upon my word it would," replied Mary. ", Musgrove, take care of the others.", "I cannot possibly do without Anne," was Mary's reasoning; and Elizabeth's reply was, "Then I am sure Anne had better stay, for nobody will want her in Bath.", She had never been supplanted., Anne, have you courage to go with me, and pay a visit in that house?, Her spirits were not high., He soon joined them again, successful, of course; Lady Dalrymple would be most happy to take them home, and would call for them in a few minutes., cried Mrs Clay, not daring, however, to turn her eyes towards Anne. ", And this is the end, you see, of Captain Benwick's being supposed to be an admirer of yours., Anne found Captain Benwick again drawing near her., I could not bear that she should be frightened from the visit by such nonsense., "Elliot!", To the Great House accordingly they went, to sit the full half hour in the old-fashioned square parlour, with a small carpet and shining floor, to which the present daughters of the house were gradually giving the proper air of confusion by a grand piano-forte and a harp, flower-stands and little tables placed in every direction., Mrs Croft was taking leave. ", Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant., To those, however, he was very well disposed to attach himself., This nut," he continued, with playful solemnity, "while so many of his brethren have fallen and been trodden under foot, is still in possession of all the happiness that a hazel nut can be supposed capable of.", She could scarcely imagine a more cheerless situation in itself than Mrs Smith's., Every minute is valuable., Anne longed for the power of representing to them all what they were about, and of pointing out some of the evils they were exposing themselves to., If Louisa recovered, it would all be well again., Never was a better sloop than the Asp in her day., Once, too, he spoke to her., "Oh!" cried Elizabeth, "I have been rather too much used to the game to be soon overcome by a gentleman's hints., Mrs Clay was very pleasant, and very smiling, but her courtesies and smiles were more a matter of course., But what I mean is, that I hope there is nothing in Captain Wentworth's manner of writing to make you suppose he thinks himself ill-used by his friend, which might appear, you know, without its being absolutely said., the work of an instant!, She did not imagine that her father had at present an idea of the kind., She felt a great deal of good-will towards him., There is something about Frederick more to our taste., It cannot be doubted that Sir Walter and Elizabeth were shocked and mortified by the loss of their companion, and the discovery of their deception in her., I cannot make her attend to the value of the property., She could not endure the idea of treachery or levity, or anything akin to ill usage between him and his friend., You will see them both this morning, I dare say., She has a blister on one of her heels, as large as a three-shilling piece., Of course they must attend., He would mention no names now; but such, he could assure her, had been the fact., Charles Musgrove was civil and agreeable; in sense and temper he was undoubtedly superior to his wife, but not of powers, or conversation, or grace, to make the past, as they were connected together, at all a dangerous contemplation; though, at the same time, Anne could believe, with Lady Russell, that a more equal match might have greatly improved him; and that a woman of real understanding might have given more consequence to his character, and more usefulness, rationality, and elegance to his habits and pursuits., You know how much he wanted money: worse than myself., It was evident that Charles Hayter was not well inclined towards Captain Wentworth., After laying out for some compliments of being deeply regretted in their old neighbourhood, which Anne could not pay, they had only a few faint enquiries to make, before the talk must be all their own., But there is nothing at all of that nature in the letter., But a week must pass; only a week, in Anne's reckoning, and then, she supposed, they must meet; and soon she began to wish that she could feel secure even for a week., You have been here only to be useful., To pacify Mary, and perhaps screen her own embarrassment, Anne did move quietly to the window., I saw them turn the corner from Bath Street just now., " It was spoken with enthusiasm. ", It was the only intelligible motive., Such was her situation, with a vacant space at hand, when Captain Wentworth was again in sight., She was lost, and when she had scolded back her senses, she found the others still waiting for the carriage, and Mr Elliot (always obliging) just setting off for Union Street on a commission of Mrs Clay's., We must feel that every addition to your father's society, among his equals or superiors, may be of use in diverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him.", Though I fully believe that, at present, you have not the smallest intention of accepting him, there is no saying what may happen., "to exemplify: a beautiful glossy nut, which, blessed with original strength, has outlived all the storms of autumn., It had been my doing, solely mine., "I have let my house to Admiral Croft," would sound extremely well; very much better than to any mere Mr--; a Mr (save, perhaps, some half dozen in the nation,) always needs a note of explanation., He had many years ago received such a description of Miss Anne Elliot as had inspired him with the highest idea of her merit, and excited the warmest curiosity to know her., And looked back, with fond regret, to the bustles of Uppercross and the seclusion of Kellynch., The circumstances, probably, which first opened your eyes to his character.", "Not till the first week of August, when he came home from the Cape, just made into the Grappler., No, no; Frederick is not a man to whine and complain; he has too much spirit for that., Their respectability was as dear to her as her own, and a daily intercourse had become precious by habit., "I think you spoke of having known Mr Elliot many years?", Mrs Musgrove was giving Mrs Croft the history of her eldest daughter's engagement, and just in that inconvenient tone of voice which was perfectly audible while it pretended to be a whisper., The portraits themselves seemed to be staring in astonishment., Unintentionally she returned to that part of the room; he saw her, and, instantly rising, said, with studied politeness-- "I beg your pardon, madam, this is your seat;" and though she immediately drew back with a decided negative, he was not to be induced to sit down again., She understood him., Anne, really tired herself, was glad to sit down; and she very soon heard Captain Wentworth and Louisa in the hedge-row, behind her, as if making their way back along the rough, wild sort of channel, down the centre., There was a momentary expression in Captain Wentworth's face at this speech, a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome mouth, which convinced Anne, that instead of sharing in Mrs Musgrove's kind wishes, as to her son, he had probably been at some pains to get rid of him; but it was too transient an indulgence of self-amusement to be detected by any who understood him less than herself; in another moment he was perfectly collected and serious, and almost instantly afterwards coming up to the sofa, on which she and Mrs Musgrove were sitting, took a place by the latter, and entered into conversation with her, in a low voice, about her son, doing it with so much sympathy and natural grace, as shewed the kindest consideration for all that was real and unabsurd in the parent's feelings., You would not like to leave him yourself, but you see I can be of no use., I have this moment heard that the Crofts are going to Bath almost immediately; they think the Admiral gouty., Anne fully submitted, in silent, deep mortification., His profession qualified him, his disposition lead him, to talk; and "That was in the year six;" "That happened before I went to sea in the year six," occurred in the course of the first evening they spent together: and though his voice did not falter, and though she had no reason to suppose his eye wandering towards her while he spoke, Anne felt the utter impossibility, from her knowledge of his mind, that he could be unvisited by remembrance any more than herself., Louisa could not listen at all to his account of a conversation which he had just held with Dr Shirley: she was at a window, looking out for Captain Wentworth; and even Henrietta had at best only a divided attention to give, and seemed to have forgotten all the former doubt and solicitude of the negotiation. ", Thank God!, Captain Benwick must give up his room to them, and get another bed elsewhere; and the whole was settled., Can I be of any use?", Mrs Smith's enjoyments were not spoiled by this improvement of income, 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., When he came back, alas!, Lady Russell was fond of Bath, in short, and disposed to think it must suit them all; and as to her young friend's health, by passing all the warm months with her at Kellynch Lodge, every danger would be avoided; and it was in fact, a change which must do both health and spirits good., "I must see Captain Benwick before I decide," said Lady Russell, smiling., "But you, yourself, brought Mrs Harville, her sister, her cousin, and three children, round from Portsmouth to Plymouth., "I do not know., cried Sir Basil, `, His spirits had been greatly recovering lately as might be expected., My father was certainly disposed to take very kind and proper notice of him., I have no reason, from any thing that has fallen within my observation, to do otherwise., Something occurred, however, to give her a different duty., Yes," said he, "very true; here we separate, but Harville and I shall soon be after you; that is, Harville, if you are ready, I am in half a minute., She must have been in your own circle; for as you went with Lady Dalrymple, you were in the seats of grandeur, round the orchestra, of course.", "Is there no one to help me?" were the first words which burst from Captain Wentworth, in a tone of despair, and as if all his own strength were gone. ", Did you ever see the like?, There she felt her own inferiority very keenly., But I cannot believe it of you., I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine., It would not be fair; and yet you ought to have proof, for what is all this but assertion, and you shall have proof.", The past was nothing., The nights were too dark for the ladies to meet again till the morrow, but Captain Harville had promised them a visit in the evening; and he came, bringing his friend also, which was more than had been expected, it having been agreed that Captain Benwick had all the appearance of being oppressed by the presence of so many strangers., Till it does come, you know, we women never mean to have anybody., She had never received from her more than outward attention, nothing beyond the observances of complaisance; had never succeeded in any point which she wanted to carry, against previous inclination., At this moment I cannot recollect his name, though I have heard it so lately., She would take place of me then, and Henrietta would not dislike that., "Indeed you are mistaken there, sir; I should never augur want of spirit from Captain Benwick's manners., The answer soon presented itself., "Yes, yes, I see you are., the peace has come too soon for that younker., You may guess, therefore, that the news he heard from his friend could not be very agreeable, and you may guess what it produced;, "Well, as your joint acquaintance, then, I shall be very happy to see Captain Benwick.", And before she was beyond the first stage of full sensation, Charles, Mary, and Henrietta all came in., Mr Elliot, raised by his marriage to great affluence, and disposed to every gratification of pleasure and vanity which could be commanded without involving himself, (for with all his self-indulgence he had become a prudent man), and beginning to be rich, just as his friend ought to have found himself to be poor, seemed to have had no concern at all for that friend's probable finances, but, on the contrary, had been prompting and encouraging expenses which could end only in ruin; and the Smiths accordingly had been ruined., ay,--, I mean to make my profit of Mrs Wallis, however., "Oh! no., Miss Elliot was to have the honour of calling on Mrs Musgrove in the course of the morning; and Anne walked off with Charles and Mary, to go and see her and Henrietta directly., However, at any rate, as I have a great deal more at stake on this point than anybody else can have, I think it rather unnecessary in you to be advising me., Captain Harville, who had in truth been hearing none of it, now left his seat, and moved to a window, and Anne seeming to watch him, though it was from thorough absence of mind, became gradually sensible that he was inviting her to join him where he stood., "I found," said he, "that I was considered by Harville an engaged man!, Now, I cannot help thinking it a pity that he does not live entirely by the sea., Where could you expect a more gentlemanlike, agreeable man?, There were more completely popular., Captain Wentworth jealous of her affection!, I am glad I did not think of it before., "Certainly., Yet, in spite of all this, Anne had reason to believe that she had moments only of languor and depression, to hours of occupation and enjoyment., Charles came a few hours afterwards, to bring a later and more particular account., I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago., Anne avoided a direct reply, but it was just the circumstance which she considered as not merely unnecessary to be communicated, but as what ought to be suppressed., Captain Wentworth turned in to call on his friend; the others walked on, and he was to join them on the Cobb., Her power with him was gone for ever., You must have heard him notice Mrs Clay's freckles.", And there was silence between them for a little while., After one of the many praises of the day, which were continually bursting forth, Captain Wentworth added: -- "What glorious weather for the Admiral and my sister!, A very good man, and very much the gentleman I am sure: but I should think, Miss Elliot," (looking with serious reflection), "I should think he must be rather a dressy man for his time of life., It was soon Uppercross with him almost every day., Lord bless me!, There he had seen everything to exalt in his estimation the woman he had lost; and there begun to deplore the pride, the folly, the madness of resentment, which had kept him from trying to regain her when thrown in his way., When she reached the White Hart, and made her way to the proper apartment, she found herself neither arriving quite in time, nor the first to arrive., On the morning appointed for Admiral and Mrs Croft's seeing Kellynch Hall, Anne found it most natural to take her almost daily walk to Lady Russell's, and keep out of the way till all was over; when she found it most natural to be sorry that she had missed the opportunity of seeing them., She expressed herself most willing, ready, happy to remain., Then followed the history and rise of the ancient and respectable family, in the usual terms; how it had been first settled in Cheshire; how mentioned in Dugdale, serving the office of high sheriff, representing a borough in three successive parliaments, exertions of loyalty, and dignity of baronet, in the first year of Charles II, with all the Marys and Elizabeths they had married; forming altogether two handsome duodecimo pages, and concluding with the arms and motto:--"Principal seat, Kellynch Hall, in the county of Somerset," and Sir Walter's handwriting again in this finale:-- "Heir presumptive, William Walter Elliot, Esq., great grandson of the second Sir Walter.", He can be of essential service to me; and if you would have the goodness, my dear Miss Elliot, to make it an object to yourself, of course it is done.", The following morning Anne was out with her friend, and for the first hour, in an incessant and fearful sort of watch for him in vain; but at last, in returning down Pulteney Street, she distinguished him on the right hand pavement at such a distance as to have him in view the greater part of the street., A sick chamber may often furnish the worth of volumes.", "My feelings, you see, did not prevent my taking Mrs Harville and all her family to Plymouth.", Their preparations, however, were stopped short., Known to have some influence with her sister, she was continually requested, or at least receiving hints to exert it, beyond what was practicable., Very well," said Elizabeth, "I have nothing to send but my love., Can you really?", It stood the record of many sensations of pain, once severe, but now softened; and of some instances of relenting feeling, some breathings of friendship and reconciliation, which could never be looked for again, and which could never cease to be dear., But this was the only point of relief., There was some anxiety mixed with Lady Russell's joy in meeting her., I am in very good anchorage here," (smiling at Anne,) "well supplied, and want for nothing., He spoke to her, and then turned away., That has been a very great improvement., "Not quite, a few lines more., He met with a clever young German artist at the Cape, and in compliance with a promise to my poor sister, sat to him, and was bringing it home for her; and I have now the charge of getting it properly set for another!, And in short, he had looked and said everything with such exquisite grace, that they could assure them all, their heads were both turned by him; and off they ran, quite as full of glee as of love, and apparently more full of Captain Wentworth than of little Charles., a mixture of those who had never met before, and those who met too often; a commonplace business, too numerous for intimacy, too small for variety; but Anne had never found an evening shorter., So, Lady Russell would not get out., Elizabeth had nothing to propose of deeper efficacy., "I am very glad to know all this," said Anne, after a little thoughtfulness., Henrietta, conscious and ashamed, and seeing no cousin Charles walking along any path, or leaning against any gate, was ready to do as Mary wished; but "No!" said Charles Musgrove, and "No, no!", The sequel explained it., Call it gossip, if you will, but when Nurse Rooke has half an hour's leisure to bestow on me, she is sure to have something to relate that is entertaining and profitable: something that makes one know one's species better., Altered beyond his knowledge.", How Anne's more rigid requisitions might have been taken is of little consequence., They are gone back to Kellynch, and almost made me swear to visit them this summer; but my first visit to Kellynch will be with a surveyor, to tell me how to bring it with best advantage to the hammer., For you alone, I think and plan., She could soon sit upright on the sofa, and began to hope she might be able to leave it by dinner-time., Sir Walter had once been in company with the late viscount, but had never seen any of the rest of the family; and the difficulties of the case arose from there having been a suspension of all intercourse by letters of ceremony, ever since the death of that said late viscount, when, in consequence of a dangerous illness of Sir Walter's at the same time, there had been an unlucky omission at Kellynch., Captain Wentworth must be out of sight., , he need not have waited till this time; he would have done what she could not but believe that in his place she should have done long ago, when events had been early giving him the independence which alone had been wanting., He was evidently a young man of considerable taste in reading, though principally in poetry; and besides the persuasion of having given him at least an evening's indulgence in the discussion of subjects, which his usual companions had probably no concern in, she had the hope of being of real use to him in some suggestions as to the duty and benefit of struggling against affliction, which had naturally grown out of their conversation., I can never get by this shop without stopping., `Old fellow!', Had Lady Dalrymple and her daughter even been very agreeable, she would still have been ashamed of the agitation they created, but they were nothing., She deprecated the connexion in every light., He enquired after you very particularly; asked even if you were personally altered, little suspecting that to my eye you could never alter.", not I., He had, probably, never heard, and never thought of any claims of Charles Hayter., Henrietta remained with Louisa; but all the rest of the family were again in their usual quarters., It had been gradually yielding to the better hopes which her looks, or words, or actions occasionally encouraged; it had been vanquished at last by those sentiments and those tones which had reached him while she talked with Captain Harville; and under the irresistible governance of which he had seized a sheet of paper, and poured out his feelings., "I do not exactly know, for Henrietta, I shall never forget his happiness., He had handed them both in, and placed himself between them; and in this manner, under these circumstances, full of astonishment and emotion to Anne, she quitted Lyme., Is this true?, I assure you, Captain Wentworth, we are very sorry he ever left you.", "I can explain this too," cried Mrs Smith, smiling. ", Shabby fellows, both of them!, More than I can recollect in a moment; but I can tell you some., To finish the interest of the story, the friendship between him and the Harvilles seemed, if possible, augmented by the event which closed all their views of alliance, and Captain Benwick was now living with them entirely., But she could not be long ungrateful; he was sacrificing an engagement at a gunsmith's, to be of use to her; and she set off with him, with no feeling but gratitude apparent., " Anne could do no more; but her heart prophesied some mischance to damp the perfection of her felicity., Mr Musgrove was, in a lesser degree, affected likewise; and when they reached the cottage, they were evidently in want, first, of being listened to anew on this subject, and afterwards, of all the relief which cheerful companions could give them., After clearing his throat, however, he proceeded thus-- "I confess that I do think there is a disparity, too great a disparity, and in a point no less essential than mind., "Certainly I could have none., Her own spirits improved by change of place and subject, by being removed three miles from Kellynch; Mary's ailments lessened by having a constant companion, and their daily intercourse with the other family, since there was neither superior affection, confidence, nor employment in the cottage, to be interrupted by it, was rather an advantage., He was then the inferior in circumstances; he was then the poor one; he had chambers in the Temple, and it was as much as he could do to support the appearance of a gentleman., "That is precisely what I was going to observe," cried Mrs Croft., They are not at all nice children, in my opinion; but Mrs Musgrove seems to like them quite as well, if not better, than her grandchildren., This," said she, "is nearly the sense, or rather the meaning of the words, for certainly the sense of an Italian love-song must not be talked of, but it is as nearly the meaning as I can give; for I do not pretend to understand the language., Another circumstance very essential for her to know, was how long he meant to be in Bath; he had not mentioned it, or she could not recollect it., It was too pleasing a blunder for a reproach., Various as were the tempers in her father's house, he pleased them all., Once she did contrive to push him away, but the boy had the greater pleasure in getting upon her back again directly. ", Anne had always thought such a style of intercourse highly imprudent; but she had ceased to endeavour to check it, from believing that, though there were on each side continual subjects of offence, neither family could now do without it., But here comes a friend, Captain Brigden; I shall only say, `How d'ye do?' as we pass, however., Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story., Sir Walter could not have borne the degradation of being known to design letting his house., Their conversation the preceding evening did not disincline him to seek her again; and they walked together some time, talking as before of Mr Scott and Lord Byron, and still as unable as before, and as unable as any other two readers, to think exactly alike of the merits of either, till something occasioned an almost general change amongst their party, and instead of Captain Benwick, she had Captain Harville by her side. ", He was cut short by the eager attacks of the little boys, clinging to him like an old friend, and declaring he should not go; and being too much engrossed by proposals of carrying them away in his coat pockets, &c., to have another moment for finishing or recollecting what he had begun, Anne was left to persuade herself, as well as she could, that the same brother must still be in question., The Crofts were to have possession at Michaelmas; and as Sir Walter proposed removing to Bath in the course of the preceding month, there was no time to be lost in making every dependent arrangement., Her eyes were bright and her cheeks glowed; but she knew nothing about it., He is turning away., He gave her a momentary glance, a glance of brightness, which seemed to say, "That man is struck with you, and even I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again.", I consider him with great respect., They found Mrs Musgrove and her daughter within, and by themselves, and Anne had the kindest welcome from each., A little disordered always the first twenty-four hours of going to sea, but never knew what sickness was afterwards., Indeed, Mrs Harville and I quite agree that we love her the better for having nursed her., I mean while the woman you love lives, and lives for you., She would see if it rained., Dear Miss Elliot, may I not say father and son?", Chapter 13, Captain Harville, though not equalling Captain Wentworth in manners, was a perfect gentleman, unaffected, warm, and obliging., "I knew pretty well what she was before that day;" said he, smiling., Just as they were setting off, the gentlemen returned., They had arrived late the night before., On Friday morning she meant to go very early to Lady Russell, and accomplish the necessary communication; and she would have gone directly after breakfast, but that Mrs Clay was also going out on some obliging purpose of saving her sister trouble, which determined her to wait till she might be safe from such a companion., It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she was ten years before; and, generally speaking, if there has been neither ill health nor anxiety, it is a time of life at which scarcely any charm is lost., A Mrs Smith., It would be difficult to say which had seen highest perfection in the other, or which had been the happiest:, Poor Frederick!" said he at last., Captain Benwick obeyed, and Charles at the same moment, disengaging himself from his wife, they were both with him; and Louisa was raised up and supported more firmly between them, and everything was done that Anne had prompted, but in vain; while Captain Wentworth, staggering against the wall for his support, exclaimed in the bitterest agony-- "Oh God!, "I am sure Lady Russell would like him., They had drawn back from many introductions, and still were perpetually having cards left by people of whom they knew nothing., To Anne herself it was most distressing to see Mr Elliot enter the room; and quite painful to have him approach and speak to her., My poor Charles, who had the finest, most generous spirit in the world, would have divided his last farthing with him; and I know that his purse was open to him; I know that he often assisted him.", Anne could not have supposed it possible that her first evening in Camden Place could have passed so well!, He had the curacy of Monkford, you know, Sir Walter, some time back, for two or three years., Miss Carteret was with her mother; consequently it was not reasonable to expect accommodation for all the three Camden Place ladies., Depend upon it, that is a circumstance which his servants take care to publish, wherever he goes., She did not attribute guile to any., Lady Russell felt obliged to oppose her dear Anne's known wishes., "Ha! he was surprised at that;" and added, "certainly you cannot do better than to continue as you are; you cannot be better than well; or I should recommend Gowland, the constant use of Gowland, during the spring months., There had been a time, Mrs Smith told her, when her spirits had nearly failed., And such being the case," continued Mrs Smith, after a short pause, "I hope you believe that I do know how to value your kindness in coming to me this morning., Captain Wentworth, however, came from his window, apparently not ill-disposed for conversation; but Charles Hayter soon put an end to his attempts by seating himself near the table, and taking up the newspaper; and Captain Wentworth returned to his window., These were some of the thoughts which occupied Anne, while her fingers were mechanically at work, proceeding for half an hour together, equally without error, and without consciousness., He delighted in being asked, but he would not tell. ", "You will not like him, I will answer for it.", She looked at her however, from time to time, anxiously; and when the moment approached which must point him out, though not daring to look again (for her own countenance she knew was unfit to be seen), she was yet perfectly conscious of Lady Russell's eyes being turned exactly in the direction for him-- of her being, in short, intently observing him., You have always a profession, pursuits, business of some sort or other, to take you back into the world immediately, and continual occupation and change soon weaken impressions.", I think differently now; time and sickness and sorrow have given me other notions; but at that period I must own I saw nothing reprehensible in what Mr Elliot was doing., So much novelty and beauty!, She had a large acquaintance, of course professionally, among those who can afford to buy, and she disposes of my merchandise., But she was very anxious to have it done with the least possible pain to him and Elizabeth., It was a concert for the benefit of a person patronised by Lady Dalrymple., Here was a fortune at once; besides which, there would be the chance of what might be done in any future war; and he was sure Captain Wentworth was as likely a man to distinguish himself as any officer in the navy., very well; time will explain., I am sure, Anne, if you would, you might persuade him that I really am very ill--a great deal worse than I ever own., She could not keep her appointment punctually, however; the weather was unfavourable, and she had grieved over the rain on her friends' account, and felt it very much on her own, before she was able to attempt the walk., She had a great deal to listen to; all the particulars of past sad scenes, all the minutiae of distress upon distress, which in former conversations had been merely hinted at, were dwelt on now with a natural indulgence., She had good reason to believe that some property of her husband in the West Indies, which had been for many years under a sort of sequestration for the payment of its own incumbrances, might be recoverable by proper measures; and this property, though not large, would be enough to make her comparatively rich., Oh yes!, He has changed his hour of going, I suppose, that is all, or I may be mistaken, I might not attend;" and walked back to her chair, recomposed, and with the comfortable hope of having acquitted herself well., much thicker than Miss Anne's; and, in short, her civility rendered her quite as anxious to be left to walk with Mr Elliot as Anne could be, and it was discussed between them with a generosity so polite and so determined, that the others were obliged to settle it for them; Miss Elliot maintaining that Mrs Clay had a little cold already, and Mr Elliot deciding on appeal, that his cousin Anne's boots were rather the thickest., Mary, very much gratified by this attention, was delighted to receive him, while a thousand feelings rushed on Anne, of which this was the most consoling, that it would soon be over., A well-looking man," said Sir Walter, "a very well-looking man.", She had hoped better things from their high ideas of their own situation in life, and was reduced to form a wish which she had never foreseen; a wish that they had more pride; for "our cousins Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret;" "our cousins, the Dalrymples," sounded in her ears all day long., Will it not be wiser to accept the society of those good ladies in Laura Place, and enjoy all the advantages of the connexion as far as possible?, "And not known to him, perhaps, so soon.", She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! alas!, Oh, how fallen in their destination!, The two families had always been on excellent terms, there being no pride on one side, and no envy on the other, and only such a consciousness of superiority in the Miss Musgroves, as made them pleased to improve their cousins., of South Park, in the county of Gloucester, by which lady (who died 1800) he has issue Elizabeth, born June 1, 1785; Anne, born August 9, 1787; a still-born son, November 5, 1789; Mary, born November 20, 1791., "Yes," said Anne, "you tell me nothing which does not accord with what I have known, or could imagine., There could be no doubt of his being a sensible man., The hardness of the pavement for her feet, made him less willing upon the present occasion; he did it, however., Mr Elliot was not disappointed in the interest he hoped to raise., I began to think I should never see you., I am not going to marry Mr Elliot., In one point, I am sure, my dear cousin," (he continued, speaking lower, though there was no one else in the room) "in one point, I am sure, we must feel alike., Here Anne spoke-- ", I really think Charles might as well have told his father we would all come., "It was my friend Mrs Rooke; Nurse Rooke; who, by-the-bye, had a great curiosity to see you, and was delighted to be in the way to let you in., And not only did it appear that he was expected, and speedily, but the Musgroves, in their warm gratitude for the kindness he had shewn poor Dick, and very high respect for his character, stamped as it was by poor Dick's having been six months under his care, and mentioning him in strong, though not perfectly well-spelt praise, as "a fine dashing felow, only two perticular about the schoolmaster," were bent on introducing themselves, and seeking his acquaintance, as soon as they could hear of his arrival., Lady Russell had little taste for wit, and of anything approaching to imprudence a horror., She had been at Bath the year before, and Lady Russell had heard her spoken of as a charming woman., They were indebted, the next day, to Charles Hayter, for all the minute knowledge of Louisa, which it was so essential to obtain every twenty-four hours., Sir Walter had at first thought more of London; but Mr Shepherd felt that he could not be trusted in London, and had been skilful enough to dissuade him from it, and make Bath preferred., When he came away, she was going to walk out with Captain Benwick, which, he hoped, would do her good., She has cousins here, you know, and many acquaintance, which would make it cheerful for her, and I am sure she would be glad to get to a place where she could have medical attendance at hand, in case of his having another seizure., They knew he was to dine in Lansdown Crescent., "The Ibbotsons, were they there?, They did not know., I shall be at your service in half a minute.", I was really in pain for him; for your hard-hearted sister, Miss Anne, seems bent on cruelty.", Mrs Charles quite swears by her, I know; but I just give you this hint, that you may be upon the watch; because, if you see anything amiss, you need not be afraid of mentioning it.", I could think of you only as one who had yielded, who had given me up, who had been influenced by any one rather than by me., Anne will not be sorry to join us, I am sure., The scenes in its neighbourhood, Charmouth, with its high grounds and extensive sweeps of country, and still more, its sweet, retired bay, backed by dark cliffs, where fragments of low rock among the sands, make it the happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide, for sitting in unwearied contemplation; the woody varieties of the cheerful village of Up Lyme; and, above all, Pinny, with its green chasms between romantic rocks, where the scattered forest trees and orchards of luxuriant growth, declare that many a generation must have passed away since the first partial falling of the cliff prepared the ground for such a state, where a scene so wonderful and so lovely is exhibited, as may more than equal any of the resembling scenes of the far-famed Isle of Wight: these places must be visited, and visited again, to make the worth of Lyme understood., Captain Wentworth made a very early return to Mr Musgrove's civility, and she was all but calling there in the same half hour., a Captain Frederick Wentworth, his brother, who being made commander in consequence of the action off St Domingo, and not immediately employed, had come into Somersetshire, in the summer of 1806; and having no parent living, found a home for half a year at Monkford., I will tell you the whole story another time., She thought it could scarcely escape him to feel that a persuadable temper might sometimes be as much in favour of happiness as a very resolute character., Glowing and lovely in sensibility and happiness, and more generally admired than she thought about or cared for, she had cheerful or forbearing feelings for every creature around her., I never saw anybody in my life spell harder for an invitation., I really cannot be plaguing myself for ever with all the new poems and states of the nation that come out., He had not been known to them as a boy; but soon after Lady Elliot's death, Sir Walter had sought the acquaintance, and though his overtures had not been met with any warmth, he had persevered in seeking it, making allowance for the modest drawing-back of youth; and, in one of their spring excursions to London, when Elizabeth was in her first bloom, Mr Elliot had been forced into the introduction., They had no inclination to listen to her., "You have had your little boys with you?", cried the Admiral, "what stuff these young fellows talk!, She only roused herself from the broodings of this restless agitation, to let Mrs Clay know that she had been seen with Mr Elliot three hours after his being supposed to be out of Bath, for having watched in vain for some intimation of the interview from the lady herself, she determined to mention it, and it seemed to her there was guilt in Mrs Clay's face as she listened., She wanted it to be prescribed, and felt as a duty., she repeated to herself again and again, in nervous gratitude. ", Lady Russell had not been arrived five minutes the day before, when a full account of the whole had burst on her; but still it must be talked of, she must make enquiries, she must regret the imprudence, lament the result, and Captain Wentworth's name must be mentioned by both., Where could have been the attraction?, They had travelled half their way along the rough lane, before she was quite awake to what they said., Her satisfaction in Mr Elliot outweighed all the plague of Mrs Clay., But these measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient for the real extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself obliged to confess to her soon afterwards., , I should be extremely happy to be of use to you in any way that I could., My dearest Anne, it would give me more delight than is often felt at my time of life!", "But, Captain Wentworth," cried Louisa, "how vexed you must have been when you came to the Asp, to see what an old thing they had given you.", If she could only have a few minutes conversation with him again, she fancied she should be satisfied; and as to the power of addressing him, she felt all over courage if the opportunity occurred., The two families were so continually meeting, so much in the habit of running in and out of each other's house at all hours, that it was rather a surprise to her to find Mary alone; but being alone, her being unwell and out of spirits was almost a matter of course., Mr Shepherd, a civil, cautious lawyer, who, whatever might be his hold or his views on Sir Walter, would rather have the disagreeable prompted by anybody else, excused himself from offering the slightest hint, and only begged leave to recommend an implicit reference to the excellent judgement of Lady Russell, from whose known good sense he fully expected to have just such resolute measures advised as he meant to see finally adopted., She had not mistaken him., His attentive deference to her father, contrasted with his former language, was odious; and when she thought of his cruel conduct towards Mrs Smith, she could hardly bear the sight of his present smiles and mildness, or the sound of his artificial good sentiments., , I assure you; but my sister makes nothing of it; she would as lieve be tossed out as not.", The husband had died just in time to be spared the full knowledge of it., I am not particularly disposed to favour a tenant., , I heard it myself, and you were in the other room., I shall be surprised at least if you ever received a hint of it, for I never did., The change was indubitable., Now she hoped for some beneficial change; and, after a period of nothing-saying amongst the party, some of them did decide on going in quest of tea., It was now his object to marry., We sailors, Miss Elliot, cannot afford to make long courtships in time of war., The horror and distress you were involved in, the stretch of mind, the wear of spirits!, Brigden stares to see anybody with me but my wife., She said all that was reasonable and proper on the business; felt the claims of Dr Shirley to repose as she ought; saw how very desirable it was that he should have some active, respectable young man, as a resident curate, and was even courteous enough to hint at the advantage of such resident curate's being married., He joined them; but, as if irresolute whether to join or to pass on, said nothing, only looked., It was misery to think of Mr Elliot's attentions., "Quite delightful!", His reading has done him no harm, for he has fought as well as read., Miss Harville only died last June., We certainly do not forget you as soon as you forget us., This is breaking a head and giving a plaster, truly!", While they were speaking, a whispering between her father and Elizabeth caught her ear., He is younger than I am; younger in feeling, if not in fact; younger as a man., Sir Walter only nodded., She was obliged to kneel down by the sofa, and remain there to satisfy her patient; and thus they continued a few minutes, when, to her very great satisfaction, she heard some other person crossing the little vestibule., "Oh! those letters are convenient passports., she was only Anne., It was a little fever of admiration; but it might, probably must, end in love with some., Mrs Musgrove protests solemnly that she knew nothing of the matter., I will not allow it to be more man's nature than woman's to be inconstant and forget those they do love, or have loved., Freckles do not disgust me so very much as they do him., Here and there, human nature may be great in times of trial; but generally speaking, it is its weakness and not its strength that appears in a sick chamber: it is selfishness and impatience rather than generosity and fortitude, that one hears of., "Oh! yes, yes, there is not a word to be said against James Benwick., The advantage of his having to come only to Uppercross, instead of going six miles another way; of his having, in every respect, a better curacy; of his belonging to their dear Dr Shirley, and of dear, good Dr Shirley's being relieved from the duty which he could no longer get through without most injurious fatigue, had been a great deal, even to Louisa, but had been almost everything to Henrietta., "When did that happen?", But still, there certainly were a dreadful multitude of ugly women in Bath; and as for the men!, Oh!, That neither Harville nor his wife entertained a doubt of our mutual attachment., You see he cannot put the card out of his hand.", Indeed, I do say it., He saw her too; yet he looked grave, and seemed irresolute, and only by very slow degrees came at last near enough to speak to her., Once she felt that he was looking at herself, observing her altered features, perhaps, trying to trace in them the ruins of the face which had once charmed him; and once she knew that he must have spoken of her; she was hardly aware of it, till she heard the answer; but then she was sure of his having asked his partner whether Miss Elliot never danced?, I do not know what he would be at., Well, now you shall hear something that will surprise you., ", As soon as I could use my hands she taught me to knit, which has been a great amusement; and she put me in the way of making these little thread-cases, pin-cushions and card-racks, which you always find me so busy about, and which supply me with the means of doing a little good to one or two very poor families in this neighbourhood., (laughing heartily); "I would not venture over a horsepond in it., A most improper match for Miss Musgrove of Uppercross.", It was all quite natural, however., "I am sorry to say that I am very far from well; and Jemima has just told me that the butcher says there is a bad sore-throat very much about., Anne caught his eye, saw his cheeks glow, and his mouth form itself into a momentary expression of contempt, and turned away, that she might neither see nor hear more to vex her., As Louisa improved, he had improved, and he was now quite a different creature from what he had been the first week., Her accommodations were limited to a noisy parlour, and a dark bedroom behind, with no possibility of moving from one to the other without assistance, which there was only one servant in the house to afford, and she never quitted the house but to be conveyed into the warm bath., Tunbridge Wells," and dated from London, as far back as July, 1803: -- "Dear Smith,--I have received yours., But in this case, Anne had left nothing for advice to do; and though Lady Russell, as satisfied as ever with her own discretion, never wished the past undone, she began now to have the anxiety which borders on hopelessness for Anne's being tempted, by some man of talents and independence, to enter a state for which she held her to be peculiarly fitted by her warm affections and domestic habits., Anne's mind was in a most favourable state for the entertainment of the evening; it was just occupation enough: she had feelings for the tender, spirits for the gay, attention for the scientific, and patience for the wearisome; and had never liked a concert better, at least during the first act., He had talked of going down to Plymouth for a week, and wanted to persuade Captain Benwick to go with him; but, as Charles maintained to the last, Captain Benwick seemed much more disposed to ride over to Kellynch., Pray sir," turning to the waiter, "did not you hear, did not his servant say whether he belonged to the Kellynch family?", And then, if I could convey to you the glow of his soul when he does see them again; when, coming back after a twelvemonth's absence, perhaps, and obliged to put into another port, he calculates how soon it be possible to get them there, pretending to deceive himself, and saying, `They cannot be here till such a day,' but all the while hoping for them twelve hours sooner, and seeing them arrive at last, as if Heaven had given them wings, by many hours sooner still!, I have not had a creature call on me since the second week in January, except Charles Hayter, who had been calling much oftener than was welcome., He had been engaged to Captain Harville's sister, and was now mourning her loss., She took hardly any notice of Charles Hayter yesterday., A most suitable connection everybody must consider it, but I think it might be a very happy one.", It had been in situation., Mrs Croft, though neither tall nor fat, had a squareness, uprightness, and vigour of form, which gave importance to her person., She had previously, in the anticipation of their marriage, been very apprehensive of losing her friend by it; but on being assured that he could have made no attempt of that nature, since he did not even know her to be in Bath, Oh!" cried Anne eagerly, I shall not stop., When the evening was over, Anne could not but be amused at the idea of her coming to Lyme to preach patience and resignation to a young man whom she had never seen before; nor could she help fearing, on more serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists and preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct would ill bear examination., What should a young fellow like you do ashore for half a year together?, Anne gave her credit, indeed, for feelings of great consideration towards herself, in all that related to Kellynch, and it pleased her: especially, as she had satisfied herself in the very first half minute, in the instant even of introduction, that there was not the smallest symptom of any knowledge or suspicion on Mrs Croft's side, to give a bias of any sort., But this, no doubt, you have been always doing., Mr Elliot was attending his two cousins and Mrs Clay., : he knew it; he was soon diffused again among the others, and it was only at intervals that he could return to Lyme., In general, his voice and manner were studiously calm., Then do tell me what he was at that time of life., To a degree, I could contradict this instantly; but, when I began to reflect that others might have felt the same--her own family, nay, perhaps herself--I was no longer at my own disposal., I am afraid there had been some mistake; and I wish you particularly to assure Captain Harville and Captain Wentworth, that we hope to see them both.", I believe the reverse., Anne was obliged to turn away, to rise, to walk to a distant table, and, leaning there in pretended employment, try to subdue the feelings this picture excited., Her knowledge of her father and Elizabeth inclined her to think that the sacrifice of one pair of horses would be hardly less painful than of both, and so on, through the whole list of Lady Russell's too gentle reductions., The Crofts must be in Bath!, Elizabeth was, for a short time, suffering a good deal., She felt that something must be the matter., Though Charles and Mary had remained at Lyme much longer after Mr and Mrs Musgrove's going than Anne conceived they could have been at all wanted, they were yet the first of the family to be at home again; and as soon as possible after their return to Uppercross they drove over to the Lodge., Here are pretty girls enough, I am sure., " She paused a moment to recover from the emotion of hearing herself so spoken of., Indeed!, , I assure you; a very active, zealous officer too, which is more than you would think for, perhaps, for that soft sort of manner does not do him justice.", I happened to be at Lyme.", I do not like having such things so long in hand., Chapter 14, And there, as they slowly paced the gradual ascent, heedless of every group around them, seeing neither sauntering politicians, bustling housekeepers, flirting girls, nor nursery-maids and children, they could indulge in those retrospections and acknowledgements, and especially in those explanations of what had directly preceded the present moment, which were so poignant and so ceaseless in interest., Miss Elliot," said he, speaking rather low, "you have done a good deed in making that poor fellow talk so much., "Mr Elliot is an exceedingly agreeable man, and in many respects I think highly of him," said Anne; "but we should not suit.", You did not use to like cards; but time makes many changes.", The notions of a young man of one or two and twenty," said he, "as to what is necessary in manners to make him quite the thing, are more absurd, I believe, than those of any other set of beings in the world., Walter," said she, "get down this moment., I am very little disposed to grant a tenant of Kellynch Hall any extraordinary favour, I assure you, be he sailor or soldier.", If there is anything in my story which you know to be either false or improbable, stop me., There being nothing to eat, he could only have some play; and as his aunt would not let him tease his sick brother, he began to fasten himself upon her, as she knelt, in such a way that, busy as she was about Charles, she could not shake him off., Uppercross, the necessity of some one's going to Uppercross; the news to be conveyed; how it could be broken to Mr and Mrs Musgrove; the lateness of the morning; an hour already gone since they ought to have been off; the impossibility of being in tolerable time.", So much was pretty soon understood; but till Sir Walter and Elizabeth were walking Mary into the other drawing-room, and regaling themselves with her admiration, Anne could not draw upon Charles's brain for a regular history of their coming, or an explanation of some smiling hints of particular business, which had been ostentatiously dropped by Mary, as well as of some apparent confusion as to whom their party consisted of., When the distressing communication at Uppercross was over, and he had seen the father and mother quite as composed as could be hoped, and the daughter all the better for being with them, he announced his intention of returning in the same carriage to Lyme; and when the horses were baited, he was off., I see you know nothing of the matter., Mrs Smith made no reply; but when she was leaving her said, and with an expression half serious, half arch, "Well, I heartily wish your concert may answer; and do not fail me to-morrow if you can come; for I begin to have a foreboding that I may not have many more visits from you.", Anne had never submitted more reluctantly to the jealous and ill-judging claims of Mary; but so it must be, and they set off for the town, Charles taking care of his sister, and Captain Benwick attending to her., He is not at all a well-bred young man., It would have been strange if I had not gone.", "You are a good soul," cried Captain Harville, putting his hand on her arm, quite affectionately., There was much to regret., Elizabeth was, in fact, revolving a great measure., He begged her pardon, but she must be applied to, to explain Italian again., The resolution of doing so helped to form the comfort of their evening., They appear to so much advantage in company with each other., Anne, must not it be our Mr Elliot?, Such confidence, powerful in its own warmth, and bewitching in the wit which often expressed it, must have been enough for Anne; but Lady Russell saw it very differently., But, upon my word, I am scarcely sensible of his attentions being beyond those of other men.", My line of conduct will be more direct., Louisa was much the same., she consulted Anne, who never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the question., "Very few., So altered that he should not have known her again!", Let me plead for my--present friend I cannot call him, but for my former friend., She could think only of the invitation she had with such astonishment witnessed, and of the manner in which it had been received; a manner of doubtful meaning, of surprise rather than gratification, of polite acknowledgement rather than acceptance., The country round Lyme is very fine., My brother," whispered one of the girls; "mamma is thinking of poor Richard.", Mary deplored the necessity for herself., Charles heard it quite by chance; they have not had the civility to give me any notice, or of offering to take anything., Elizabeth, may we venture to present him and his wife in Laura Place?", Upon hearing how long a walk the young people had engaged in, they kindly offered a seat to any lady who might be particularly tired; it would save her a full mile, and they were going through Uppercross., "Yes; I did not see them myself, but I heard Mr Elliot say they were in the room.", How so?, I have been to the theatre, and secured a box for to-morrow night., Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past., But Mary did not give into it very graciously, whether from not considering Captain Benwick entitled by birth and situation to be in love with an Elliot, or from not wanting to believe Anne a greater attraction to Uppercross than herself, must be left to be guessed., Consider, my father's heir: the future representative of the family.", Upon the hint of having spoken disrespectfully or carelessly of the family and the family honours, he was quite indignant., His daughter and Mrs Clay united in hinting that Colonel Wallis's companion might have as good a figure as Colonel Wallis, and certainly was not sandy-haired. ", My heart bled for you, as I talked of happiness; and yet he is sensible, he is agreeable, and with such a woman as you, it was not absolutely hopeless., While well, and happy, and properly attended to, she had great good humour and excellent spirits; but any indisposition sunk her completely., They never miss a concert.", The child was to be kept in bed and amused as quietly as possible; but what was there for a father to do?, His genius and ardour had seemed to foresee and to command his prosperous path., "Are you serious?", Her Christian name, " Anne could not immediately get over the shock and mortification of finding such words applied to her father., Captain Wentworth talked of going there again himself, it was only seventeen miles from Uppercross; though November, the weather was by no means bad; and, in short, Louisa, who was the most eager of the eager, having formed the resolution to go, and besides the pleasure of doing as she liked, being now armed with the idea of merit in maintaining her own way, bore down all the wishes of her father and mother for putting it off till summer; and to Lyme they were to go--Charles, Mary, Anne, Henrietta, Louisa, and Captain Wentworth., Elizabeth had been lately forming an intimacy, which she wished to see interrupted., Mrs Clay's affections had overpowered her interest, and she had sacrificed, for the young man's sake, the possibility of scheming longer for Sir Walter., It would have surprised Anne if Louisa could have readily answered such a speech: words of such interest, spoken with such serious warmth!, No, except when she thought of her mother, and remembered where she had been used to sit and preside, she had no sigh of that description to heave., Lady Russell loved them all; but it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive again., I believe you equal to every important exertion, and to every domestic forbearance, so long as--if I may be allowed the expression--so long as you have an object., Sir Walter, on being applied to, without actually withholding his consent, or saying it should never be, gave it all the negative of great astonishment, great coldness, great silence, and a professed resolution of doing nothing for his daughter., He held the card in his hand after they were gone, as if deeply considering it. ", Between ourselves, I think it a great pity, She would not have been obstinate if I had not been weak., Mr Elliot's having any views on me will not in the least account for the efforts he made towards a reconciliation with my father., He, who had ever boasted of being an Elliot, and whose feelings, as to connection, were only too strict to suit the unfeudal tone of the present day., There could not be a doubt, to her mind there was none, of what would follow her recovery., They were wretched together., I know what is due to my tenant.", A little beauty, and a few smiles, and a few compliments to the navy, and I am a lost man., I walk: I prefer walking.", Your kindness almost overpowers me., His tone, his expressions, his choice of subject, his knowing where to stop; it was all the operation of a sensible, discerning mind., Mr Elliot, and all the principal family connexions, on purpose to be introduced to them?, No letter of condolence had been sent to Ireland., This was quite a female case, and it would be highly absurd in him, who could be of no use at home, to shut himself up., My father would be well pleased if the gentlemen were richer, but he has no other fault to find., I should deserve utter contempt if I dared to suppose that true attachment and constancy were known only by woman., : she is not so near her end, I presume, but that she may hope to see another day., Look, he sees us; he kisses his hand to you; he takes you for my wife., "Yes," said he, looking not exactly forward; "but there, I think, ends the resemblance., Their dress had every advantage, their faces were rather pretty, their spirits extremely good, their manner unembarrassed and pleasant; they were of consequence at home, and favourites abroad., You must allow for an injured, angry woman., : I am always out of the way when any thing desirable is going on; always the last of my family to be noticed., This is all in confirmation, rather, of what we used to hear and believe., Elizabeth had succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother's rights and consequence; and being very handsome, and very like himself, her influence had always been great, and they had gone on together most happily., Her faith was plighted, and Mr Elliot's character, like the Sultaness Scheherazade's head, must live another day., --Three girls, the two eldest sixteen and fourteen, was an awful legacy for a mother to bequeath, an awful charge rather, to confide to the authority and guidance of a conceited, silly father., I only smirked and bowed, and said the word `happy.', It was ten o'clock., Her husband, however, would not agree with her here; for besides having a regard for his cousin, Charles Hayter was an eldest son, and he saw things as an eldest son himself. ", She seemed to be in the middle of some eager speech., But the men are all wild after Miss Elliot., Oh!, I had known you by character, however, long before.", He was astonished, indeed, but his character and general conduct must refute it., Ah! it would have been a happy thing, if he had never left you., Warmth and enthusiasm did captivate her still., He had seen you indeed, before he came to Bath, and admired you, but without knowing it to be you., You know I always cure you when I come., Mary, resenting that she should be supposed not to know her own cousin, began talking very warmly about the family features, and protesting still more positively that it was Mr Elliot, calling again upon Anne to come and look for herself, but Anne did not mean to stir, and tried to be cool and unconcerned., Well, my dear Penelope, you need not be so alarmed about him., Anne did not wish for more of such looks and speeches., "I am much obliged to you," was her answer, "but I am not going with them., His declining to be on cordial terms with the head of his family, has left a very strong impression in his disfavour with me.", She had this communication, moreover, from Mary. ", Mr Hayter had some property of his own, but it was insignificant compared with Mr Musgrove's; and while the Musgroves were in the first class of society in the country, the young Hayters would, from their parents' inferior, retired, and unpolished way of living, and their own defective education, have been hardly in any class at all, but for their connexion with Uppercross, this eldest son of course excepted, who had chosen to be a scholar and a gentleman, and who was very superior in cultivation and manners to all the rest., He had done, and was unanswered., She is nothing to me, compared with you;" and she was in full time to hear her father say, "My dear madam, this must not be., In another moment, however, she found herself in the state of being released from him; some one was taking him from her, though he had bent down her head so much, that his little sturdy hands were unfastened from around her neck, and he was resolutely borne away, before she knew that Captain Wentworth had done it., Such a number of looking-glasses!, After waiting a few moments he said, and as if it were the result of immediate feeling, "It is a period, indeed!, Mrs Smith!, the great-coat was hanging over the panel, and hid the arms, so it did; otherwise, I am sure, I should have observed them, and, She felt that he had every thing to elevate him which general attention and deference, and especially the attention of all the young women, could do., The sympathy and good-will excited towards Captain Benwick was very great. ", I never knew him myself;, Where was this superfine, extraordinary sort of gallantry of yours then?", Not that he will value it as he ought," he observed, "Charles is too cool about sporting., Again, it was Mary's complaint, that Mrs Musgrove was very apt not to give her the precedence that was her due, when they dined at the Great House with other families; and she did not see any reason why she was to be considered so much at home as to lose her place., I wish he could have such company oftener., It had been the effect of over-persuasion., Anne found herself by this time growing so much more hardened to being in Captain Wentworth's company than she had at first imagined could ever be, that the sitting down to the same table with him now, and the interchange of the common civilities attending on it (they never got beyond), was become a mere nothing., I have a great curiosity to know what Mr Elliot was as a very young man., She even addressed him once, and looked at him more than once., The estate at Winthrop is not less than two hundred and fifty acres, besides the farm near Taunton, which is some of the best land in the country., The house and grounds, and furniture, were approved, the Crofts were approved, terms, time, every thing, and every body, was right; and Mr Shepherd's clerks were set to work, without there having been a single preliminary difference to modify of all that "This indenture sheweth.", She, poor soul, is tied by the leg., Eight years and a half is a period.", These were words which could not but dwell with her., He was rich, and being turned on shore, fully intended to settle as soon as he could be properly tempted; actually looking round, ready to fall in love with all the speed which a clear head and a quick taste could allow., She was very much affected by the view of his disposition towards her, which all these things made apparent., To have been described long ago to a recent acquaintance, by nameless people, is irresistible; and Anne was all curiosity., At the end of that period, Lady Russell's politeness could repose no longer, and the fainter self-threatenings of the past became in a decided tone, "I must call on Mrs Croft; I really must call upon her soon., "No," cried Anne, quickly, "it cannot be Mr Elliot, I assure you., Of all the family, Mary was probably the one most immediately gratified by the circumstance., Lady Russell was extremely sorry that such a measure should have been resorted to at all, wondered, grieved, and feared; and the affront it contained to Anne, in Mrs Clay's being of so much use, while Anne could be of none, was a very sore aggravation., I thought you were speaking of some man of property:, He was in the Trafalgar action, and has been in the East Indies since; he was stationed there, I believe, several years.", Colonel Wallis had been so impatient to be introduced to them!, I am sure she would rather not come; she cannot feel easy with us., We have seen nothing of him since November., She had the advantage of him in the preparation of the last few moments., I perfectly see how the hours passed: that you had always something agreeable to listen to., When the Crofts called this morning, (they called here afterwards, did not they?), In every other respect, in looking around her, or penetrating forward, she saw more to distrust and to apprehend., " It seemed as if Mr Shepherd, in this anxiety to bespeak Sir Walter's good will towards a naval officer as tenant, had been gifted with foresight; for the very first application for the house was from an Admiral Croft, with whom he shortly afterwards fell into company in attending the quarter sessions at Taunton; and indeed, he had received a hint of the Admiral from a London correspondent., Your person, your disposition, accomplishments, manner; they were all present to me.", I wished for him again the next summer, when I had still the same luck in the Mediterranean.", It was painful to look upon their deserted grounds, and still worse to anticipate the new hands they were to fall into; and to escape the solitariness and the melancholy of so altered a village, and be out of the way when Admiral and Mrs Croft first arrived, she had determined to make her own absence from home begin when she must give up Anne., She could not have called it either cold or friendly, or anything so certainly as embarrassed., They had nearly done breakfast, when the sound of a carriage, (almost the first they had heard since entering Lyme) drew half the party to the window., "Did you say that you had something to tell me, sir?", Because, if you are, I shall have no scruple in asking you to take my place, and give Anne your arm to her father's door., I know those who would be shocked by such a representation of Mr Elliot, who would have difficulty in believing it; but I have never been satisfied., Do not forget me when you are married, that's all., Anne had a moment's astonishment on the subject herself; but it was soon lost in the pleasanter feelings which sprang from the sight of all the ingenious contrivances and nice arrangements of Captain Harville, to turn the actual space to the best account, to supply the deficiencies of lodging-house furniture, and defend the windows and doors against the winter storms to be expected., The sight of Mrs Clay in such favour, and of Anne so overlooked, was a perpetual provocation to her there; and vexed her as much when she was away, as a person in Bath who drinks the water, gets all the new publications, and has a very large acquaintance, has time to be vexed., But it appears--I should hope it would be a very happy match., But Charles is so positive!, In his preceding attempts to attach himself to Louisa Musgrove (the attempts of angry pride), he protested that he had for ever felt it to be impossible; that he had not cared, could not care, for Louisa; though till that day, till the leisure for reflection which followed it, he had not understood the perfect excellence of the mind with which Louisa's could so ill bear a comparison, or the perfect unrivalled hold it possessed over his own., Wentworth was the very name!, "There we differ, Mary," said Anne., A widow Mrs Smith lodging in Westgate Buildings!, There she had listened to Henrietta's schemes for Dr Shirley's leaving Uppercross; farther on, she had first seen Mr Elliot; a moment seemed all that could now be given to any one but Louisa, or those who were wrapt up in her welfare., But who else was there to employ?, As she spoke, she felt that Captain Wentworth was looking at her, the consciousness of which vexed and embarrassed her, and made her regret that she had said so much, simple as it was., We see nothing of them, and this is really an instance of gross inattention., Anne was tenderness itself, and she had the full worth of it in Captain Wentworth's affection., "We had better not talk about it, my dear," replied Mrs Croft, pleasantly; "for if Miss Elliot were to hear how soon we came to an understanding, she would never be persuaded that we could be happy together., There was never any burst of feeling, any warmth of indignation or delight, at the evil or good of others., Anne heard nothing of this., "Oh! but, Charles, tell Captain Wentworth, he need not be afraid of mentioning poor Dick before me, for it would be rather a pleasure to hear him talked of by such a good friend.", I assure you, Mr Elliot had not the share which you have been supposing, in whatever pleasure the concert of last night might afford: not Mr Elliot; it is not Mr Elliot, "We have made very few changes either," continued the Admiral, after thinking a moment., She could not stand it., Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one; there his faculties were roused into admiration and respect, by contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest patents; there any unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs changed naturally into pity and contempt as he turned over the almost endless creations of the last century; and there, if every other leaf were powerless, he could read his own history with an interest which never failed., I was startled and shocked., You are safe in all worldly matters, and safe in his character., Mrs Harville's giving it as her opinion that her husband would have quite walking enough by the time he reached home, determined the direction of all the party in what was to be their last walk; they would accompany them to their door, and then return and set off themselves., Do not you think, Anne, it is being over-scrupulous?, It was agitation, pain, pleasure, a something between delight and misery., Fanny Harville was a very superior creature, and his attachment to her was indeed attachment., Give me joy: I have got rid of Sir Walter and Miss., She could determine nothing at present., Time had changed him, or Louisa had changed him., She had weathered it, however, and could truly say that it had done her good., I had not recollected it before, I declare, but it must be very bad., It was bad enough that a Mrs Clay should be always before her; but that a deeper hypocrite should be added to their party, seemed the destruction of everything like peace and comfort., Mr and Mrs Musgrove have not had one dinner party all the holidays., To begin without knowing that at such a time there will be the means of marrying, I hold to be very unsafe and unwise, and what I think all parents should prevent as far as they can.", While Sir Walter and Elizabeth were assiduously pushing their good fortune in Laura Place, Anne was renewing an acquaintance of a very different description., It will be some trial to us both.", The Admiral abused him for his want of gallantry., Suppose I were to be seized of a sudden in some dreadful way, and not able to ring the bell!, That she was coming to apologize, and that they should have to spend the evening by themselves, was the first black idea; and Mary was quite ready to be affronted, when Louisa made all right by saying, that she only came on foot, to leave more room for the harp, which was bringing in the carriage. ", She wanted more vigorous measures, a more complete reformation, a quicker release from debt, a much higher tone of indifference for everything but justice and equity. ", Why was not she to be as useful as Anne?, "Indeed, my dear Mrs Smith, I want none," cried Anne., Their concerns had been sunk under those of Uppercross; and when Lady Russell reverted to their former hopes and fears, and spoke her satisfaction in the house in Camden Place, which had been taken, and her regret that Mrs Clay should still be with them, Anne would have been ashamed to have it known how much more she was thinking of Lyme and Louisa Musgrove, and all her acquaintance there; how much more interesting to her was the home and the friendship of the Harvilles and Captain Benwick, than her own father's house in Camden Place, or her own sister's intimacy with Mrs Clay., He was to leave Bath at nine this morning, and does not come back till to-morrow.", With all the state which a butler and foot-boy could give, Mr Elliot was ushered into the room., "I kept my letter open, that I might send you word how Louisa bore her journey, and now I am extremely glad I did, having a great deal to add., Mrs Harville was a very experienced nurse, and her nursery-maid, who had lived with her long, and gone about with her everywhere, was just such another., Anne," cried Mary, still at her window, "there is Mrs Clay, I am sure, standing under the colonnade, and a gentleman with her., All the privilege I claim for my own sex, The passing admiration of Mr Elliot had at least roused him, and the scenes on the Cobb and at Captain Harville's had fixed her superiority., All that sounded extravagant or irrational in the progress of the reconciliation might have no origin but in the language of the relators., They went to the sands, to watch the flowing of the tide, which a fine south-easterly breeze was bringing in with all the grandeur which so flat a shore admitted., Such a name!", Who is your party?", In that case, so liable as every body was to meet every body in Bath, Lady Russell would in all likelihood see him somewhere., And she," said Mrs Smith, "besides nursing me most admirably, has really proved an invaluable acquaintance., I never saw quite so wretched an example of what a sea-faring life can do; but to a degree, I know it is the same with them all: they are all knocked about, and exposed to every climate, and every weather, till they are not fit to be seen., Captain Benwick and Louisa Musgrove!, After the hints you gave just now, which did but confirm my own observations, the last time I was in company with him, I need not affect to have no comprehension of what is going on., " This was Sir Walter and Elizabeth's share of interest in the letter; when Mrs Clay had paid her tribute of more decent attention, in an enquiry after Mrs Charles Musgrove, and her fine little boys, Anne was at liberty., I knew she would., "Do let us have the pleasure of taking you home., The first heedless scheme had been to go in the morning and return at night; but to this Mr Musgrove, for the sake of his horses, would not consent; and when it came to be rationally considered, a day in the middle of November would not leave much time for seeing a new place, after deducting seven hours, as the nature of the country required, for going and returning., Anne talked of being perfectly ready, and tried to look it; but she felt that could Henrietta have known the regret and reluctance of her heart in quitting that chair, in preparing to quit the room, she would have found, in all her own sensations for her cousin, in the very security of his affection, wherewith to pity her., It was all your doing," (turning to Anne.) ", A little delay on his side might be very excusable., He might have been in Mr Elliot's company, but she had not courage to ask the question. ", Mr Wentworth was the very man., She wanted to hear much more than Mary had communicated., She always takes the right time for applying., Good God!", " She had a great wish to see him., Can I go anywhere for you, or with you?, Take a box for to-morrow night!, Anne could only feel that Charles Hayter was wise., I wish Lady Russell lived at Uppercross, and were intimate with Dr Shirley., "To be sure I will, if you wish it., Do promise me.", We do so wish that Charles had married Anne instead., She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning., Sir Walter seemed to admit it as complete apology; and though Elizabeth could not see the circumstance in quite so favourable a light, she allowed it be a great extenuation., " It was a reference to the future, which Anne, after a little observation, felt she must submit to., And the next moment she was hating herself for the folly which asked the question., Here is excellent room for three, I assure you., Oh!, They went through the particulars of their first meeting a great many times., I have known a face not materially disfigured by a few, but he abominates them., She was particularly asked to meet Mr Elliot, and be introduced to Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, who were fortunately already engaged to come; and she could not have received a more gratifying attention., That I will, with all my heart, and farther, too., She could only compare Mr Elliot to Lady Russell, in the wish of really comprehending what had passed, and in the degree of concern for what she must have suffered in witnessing it., By the report which he hastened over to Kellynch to make, Admiral Croft was a native of Somersetshire, who having acquired a very handsome fortune, was wishing to settle in his own country, and had come down to Taunton in order to look at some advertised places in that immediate neighbourhood, which, however, had not suited him; that accidentally hearing--(it was just as he had foretold, Mr Shepherd observed, Sir Walter's concerns could not be kept a secret,)-- accidentally hearing of the possibility of Kellynch Hall being to let, and understanding his (Mr Shepherd's) connection with the owner, he had introduced himself to him in order to make particular inquiries, and had, in the course of a pretty long conference, expressed as strong an inclination for the place as a man who knew it only by description could feel; and given Mr Shepherd, in his explicit account of himself, every proof of his being a most responsible, eligible tenant. ", She saw how her own character was considered by Captain Wentworth, and there had been just that degree of feeling and curiosity about her in his manner which must give her extreme agitation., The revolution which one instant had made in Anne, was almost beyond expression., The others returned, the room filled again, benches were reclaimed and repossessed, and another hour of pleasure or of penance was to be sat out, another hour of music was to give delight or the gapes, as real or affected taste for it prevailed., "You were not formerly, I know., The party at the Great House was sometimes increased by other company., It was nothing more than that his pen had fallen down; but Anne was startled at finding him nearer than she had supposed, and half inclined to suspect that the pen had only fallen because he had been occupied by them, striving to catch sounds, which yet she did not think he could have caught. ", She gloried in being a sailor's wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its national importance., The Crofts knew quite as many people in Bath as they wished for, and considered their intercourse with the Elliots as a mere matter of form, and not in the least likely to afford them any pleasure., "Pray," said Captain Wentworth, immediately, ", It had then seemed the object nearest her heart, that Dr Shirley, the rector, who for more than forty years had been zealously discharging all the duties of his office, but was now growing too infirm for many of them, should be quite fixed on engaging a curate; should make his curacy quite as good as he could afford, and should give Charles Hayter the promise of it., The house was cleared yesterday, except of the little Harvilles; but you will be surprised to hear they have never gone home., It was not merely complaisance, it must be a liking to the cause, which made him enter warmly into her father and sister's solicitudes on a subject which she thought unworthy to excite them., Anne's object was, not to be in the way of anybody; and where the narrow paths across the fields made many separations necessary, to keep with her brother and sister., And with regard to Anne's dislike of Bath, she considered it as a prejudice and mistake arising, first, from the circumstance of her having been three years at school there, after her mother's death; and secondly, from her happening to be not in perfectly good spirits the only winter which she had afterwards spent there with herself., "Yes," sighed Anne, "we shall, indeed, be known to be related to them!", She is rather done for this morning, and must not go so far without help, and I ought to be at that fellow's in the Market Place., What!, It was in one of these short meetings, each apparently occupied in admiring a fine display of greenhouse plants, that she said-- "I have been thinking over the past, and trying impartially to judge of the right and wrong, I mean with regard to myself; and I must believe that I was right, much as I suffered from it, that I was perfectly right in being guided by the friend whom you will love better than you do now., "Well, well, ladies are the best judges; but James Benwick is rather too piano for me; and though very likely it is all our partiality, Sophy and I cannot help thinking Frederick's manners better than his., " When they were got a little farther, Anne ventured to press again for what he had to communicate., Was it unpardonable to think it worth my while to come?, "No, I thank you: no, certainly not., It was a great object with me at that time to be at sea; a very great object, I wanted to be doing something.", Even the smooth surface of family-union seems worth preserving, though there may be nothing durable beneath., Let him know me to be a friend of yours, and then he will think little of the trouble required, which it is very natural for him now, with so many affairs and engagements of his own, to avoid and get rid of as he can; very natural, perhaps., Chapter 15, He had condescended to mortgage as far as he had the power, but he would never condescend to sell., Ah!, When I yielded, I thought it was to duty, but no duty could be called in aid here., Louisa was now recovering apace., The father and mother were in the old English style, and the young people in the new., It was the choicest gift of Heaven; and Anne viewed her friend as one of those instances in which, by a merciful appointment, it seems designed to counterbalance almost every other want., Leave me, and go to him., She was as much convinced of his meaning to gain Anne in time as of his deserving her, and was beginning to calculate the number of weeks which would free him from all the remaining restraints of widowhood, and leave him at liberty to exert his most open powers of pleasing., --All, They could think of no one else., He is a clever man, a reading man; and I confess, that I do consider his attaching himself to her with some surprise., When you had the presence of mind to suggest that Benwick would be the properest person to fetch a surgeon, you could have little idea of his being eventually one of those most concerned in her recovery.", Anne could not immediately fall into a quotation again., I have had a little knowledge of their methods of doing business; and I am free to confess that they have very liberal notions, and are as likely to make desirable tenants as any set of people one should meet with., What a blessing to young people to be in such hands!, Sir Walter, indeed, though he had no affection for Anne, and no vanity flattered, to make him really happy on the occasion, was very far from thinking it a bad match for her., He looked at her with a smile, and a little motion of the head, which expressed, "Come to me, I have something to say;" and the unaffected, easy kindness of manner which denoted the feelings of an older acquaintance than he really was, strongly enforced the invitation., Her sensations on the discovery made her perfectly speechless., I do not expect my children to be asked, you know., Birth and good manners are essential; but a little learning is by no means a dangerous thing in good company; on the contrary, it will do very well., They went back to dress and dine; and so well had the scheme answered already, that nothing was found amiss; though its being "so entirely out of season," and the "no thoroughfare of Lyme," and the "no expectation of company," had brought many apologies from the heads of the inn., She could do justice to the superiority of Lady Russell's motives in this, over those of her father and Elizabeth; she could honour all the better feelings of her calmness; but the general air of oblivion among them was highly important from whatever it sprung; and in the event of Admiral Croft's really taking Kellynch Hall, she rejoiced anew over the conviction which had always been most grateful to her, of the past being known to those three only among her connexions, by whom no syllable, she believed, would ever be whispered, and in the trust that among his, the brother only with whom he had been residing, had received any information of their short-lived engagement., Prettier musings of high-wrought love and eternal constancy, could never have passed along the streets of Bath, than Anne was sporting with from Camden Place to Westgate Buildings., I meet them wherever I go; and I declare, I never go twice into my nursery without seeing something of them., Chapter 10, She must learn to feel that she had been mistaken with regard to both; that she had been unfairly influenced by appearances in each; that because Captain Wentworth's manners had not suited her own ideas, she had been too quick in suspecting them to indicate a character of dangerous impetuosity; and that because Mr Elliot's manners had precisely pleased her in their propriety and correctness, their general politeness and suavity, she had been too quick in receiving them as the certain result of the most correct opinions and well-regulated mind., A large bulky figure has as good a right to be in deep affliction, as the most graceful set of limbs in the world., "About a fortnight., A man like him, in his situation! with a heart pierced, wounded, almost broken!, Troubles soon arose., " Anne was caught., All the overpowering, blinding, bewildering, first effects of strong surprise were over with her., An excellent, good-hearted fellow, This invitation of Mary's removed all Lady Russell's difficulties, and it was consequently soon settled that Anne should not go to Bath till Lady Russell took her, and that all the intervening time should be divided between Uppercross Cottage and Kellynch Lodge., They were in Milsom Street., It was the highest satisfaction to her to believe Captain Wentworth not in the least aware of the pain he was occasioning., After a short struggle, however, Charles Hayter seemed to quit the field., They had a concert bill between them. ", She was persuaded that under every disadvantage of disapprobation at home, and every anxiety attending his profession, all their probable fears, delays, and disappointments, she should yet have been a happier woman in maintaining the engagement, than she had been in the sacrifice of it; and this, she fully believed, had the usual share, had even more than the usual share of all such solicitudes and suspense been theirs, without reference to the actual results of their case, which, as it happened, would have bestowed earlier prosperity than could be reasonably calculated on., On the contrary, when he saw more of Captain Wentworth, saw him repeatedly by daylight, and eyed him well, he was very much struck by his personal claims, and felt that his superiority of appearance might be not unfairly balanced against her superiority of rank; and all this, assisted by his well-sounding name, enabled Sir Walter at last to prepare his pen, with a very good grace, for the insertion of the marriage in the volume of honour., She never misses, I know; and you must have seen her., Bless me!, Mr and Mrs Musgrove cannot think it wrong while I remain with him.", She had had a disappointment, moreover, which that book, and especially the history of her own family, must ever present the remembrance of., All this is much, very much in favour of their happiness; more than perhaps--" He stopped., She had seemed to recommend and praise him!", What will he be doing, in fact, but what very many of our first families have done, or ought to do?, Mr Elliot was better to look at than most men, and he had no objection to being seen with him anywhere.", I only mean that if Mr Elliot should some time hence pay his addresses to you, and if you should be disposed to accept him, I think there would be every possibility of your being happy together., "No. Was not it Mrs Speed, as usual, or the maid?, These valuable pictures of yours, Sir Walter, if you chose to leave them, would be perfectly safe., "Yes, I made the best of it; I always do: but I was very far from well at the time; and I do not think I ever was so ill in my life as I have been all this morning: very unfit to be left alone, I am sure., Had you?", While we were together, you know, there was nothing to be feared., The carriage would not accommodate so many., I can only say, `No, I shall not;' and then they say again, `Yes, you will,' and there is an end of it.", Sophy cannot bear them., I have crossed the Atlantic four times, and have been once to the East Indies, and back again, and only once; besides being in different places about home: Cork, and Lisbon, and Gibraltar., Was he at all such as he appears now?", She must be allowed to be a favourer of matrimony, you know; and (since self will intrude) who can say that she may not have some flying visions of attending the next Lady Elliot, through Mrs Wallis's recommendation?", She meant to avoid any such alteration of manners as might provoke a remonstrance on his side., Chapter 17, Mrs Harville, a degree less polished than her husband, seemed, however, to have the same good feelings; and nothing could be more pleasant than their desire of considering the whole party as friends of their own, because the friends of Captain Wentworth, or more kindly hospitable than their entreaties for their all promising to dine with them., It is rather from feeling how impossible it is, with all one's efforts, and all one's sacrifices, to make the accommodations on board such as women ought to have., Everything now marked out Louisa for Captain Wentworth; nothing could be plainer; and where many divisions were necessary, or even where they were not, they walked side by side nearly as much as the other two., She had been used to affluence: it was gone., And so you must judge for yourself, whether it would be better for you to go about the house or not.", "Any acquaintance of Anne's will always be welcome to me," was Lady Russell's kind answer., It is Anne's own proposal, and so I shall go with you, which will be a great deal better, for I have not dined at the other house since Tuesday.", Why did Mr Elliot draw back?", "I should never think of standing on such ceremony with people I know so well as Mrs and the Miss Musgroves.", She was of strict integrity herself, with a delicate sense of honour; but she was as desirous of saving Sir Walter's feelings, as solicitous for the credit of the family, as aristocratic in her ideas of what was due to them, as anybody of sense and honesty could well be., Mrs Clay decidedly thought it Mr Elliot's knock.", "No," said Anne, "that I can easily believe to be impossible; but in time, perhaps--we know what time does in every case of affliction, and you must remember, Captain Harville, that your friend may yet be called a young mourner--only last summer, I understand.", They had been a year or two waiting for fortune and promotion., How can you be so forgetful?", She could imagine what Louisa was feeling., Mrs Musgrove was good humouredly beginning to express her perfect readiness for the play, if Henrietta and all the others liked it, when Mary eagerly interrupted her by exclaiming-- "Good heavens, Charles!, exclaimed Mary, tauntingly. ", It was a dreadful picture of ingratitude and inhumanity; and Anne felt, at some moments, that no flagrant open crime could have been worse., Other opportunities of making her observations could not fail to occur., Her spring of felicity was in the glow of her spirits, as her friend Anne's was in the warmth of her heart., I will ask them all for an evening; that will be much better; that will be a novelty and a treat., One hates to be officious, to be giving bad impressions, making mischief., Events of every description, changes, alienations, removals--all, all must be comprised in it, and oblivion of the past-- how natural, how certain too!, Every report agreed in Captain Wentworth's appearing fixed in Lyme., Therefore, Sir Walter, what I would take leave to suggest is, that if in consequence of any rumours getting abroad of your intention; which must be contemplated as a possible thing, because we know how difficult it is to keep the actions and designs of one part of the world from the notice and curiosity of the other; consequence has its tax; I, John Shepherd, might conceal any family-matters that I chose, for nobody would think it worth their while to observe me; but Sir Walter Elliot has eyes upon him which it may be very difficult to elude; and therefore, thus much I venture upon, that it will not greatly surprise me if, with all our caution, some rumour of the truth should get abroad; in the supposition of which, as I was going to observe, since applications will unquestionably follow, I should think any from our wealthy naval commanders particularly worth attending to; and beg leave to add, that two hours will bring me over at any time, to save you the trouble of replying.", Since he actually was expected in the country, she must teach herself to be insensible on such points., She acknowledged it to be very fitting, that every little social commonwealth should dictate its own matters of discourse; and hoped, ere long, to become a not unworthy member of the one she was now transplanted into., Her spirits wanted the solitude and silence which only numbers could give., No:, Her recent good offices by Anne had been enough in themselves, and their marriage, instead of depriving her of one friend, secured her two., He described one Miss Elliot, and I thought very affectionately of the other.", Nobody could do it, but that good fellow" (pointing to Captain Wentworth.), She could not help thinking much of the extraordinary circumstances attending their acquaintance, of the right which he seemed to have to interest her, by everything in situation, by his own sentiments, by his early prepossession., A little further perseverance in patience and forced cheerfulness on Anne's side produced nearly a cure on Mary's., They were actually on the same sofa, for Mrs Musgrove had most readily made room for him; they were divided only by Mrs Musgrove., We cannot part.", A widow Mrs Smith; and who was her husband?, Her manners were open, easy, and decided, like one who had no distrust of herself, and no doubts of what to do; without any approach to coarseness, however, or any want of good humour., They had been all in lodgings together., What dreadful weather we have had!, "Everybody is always supposing that I am not a good walker; and yet they would not have been pleased, if we had refused to join them., Henrietta was exactly in that state of recently-improved views, of fresh-formed happiness, which made her full of regard and interest for everybody she had ever liked before at all; and Mrs Musgrove's real affection had been won by her usefulness when they were in distress., "Another time, Sir, I thank you, not now." ", Mr Elliot does not dislike his cousin, I fancy?", I am not more alarmed about little Charles now than he is., I perfectly understand Mr Robinson's directions, and have no fears; and indeed, Mary, I cannot wonder at your husband., Mrs Clay was right., "My dear Miss Elliot!" exclaimed Mrs Clay, lifting her hands and eyes, and sinking all the rest of her astonishment in a convenient silence. ", They talked of coming into this side of the country., -- "Captain Wentworth is not very gallant by you, Anne, though he was so attentive to me., "I felt my luck, Admiral, I assure you;" replied Captain Wentworth, seriously., Instead of pushing his fortune in the line marked out for the heir of the house of Elliot, he had purchased independence by uniting himself to a rich woman of inferior birth., Alas!, I do not understand it., She had been repeatedly very earnest in trying to get Anne included in the visit to London, sensibly open to all the injustice and all the discredit of the selfish arrangements which shut her out, and on many lesser occasions had endeavoured to give Elizabeth the advantage of her own better judgement and experience; but always in vain: Elizabeth would go her own way; and never had she pursued it in more decided opposition to Lady Russell than in this selection of Mrs Clay; turning from the society of so deserving a sister, to bestow her affection and confidence on one who ought to have been nothing to her but the object of distant civility., She only consulted Lady Russell, who entered thoroughly into her sentiments, and was most happy to convey her as near to Mrs Smith's lodgings in Westgate Buildings, as Anne chose to be taken., He cannot bear the idea of not being Sir William., "I am not one of those who neglect the reigning power to bow to the rising sun., He thinks Mrs Clay afraid of him, aware that he sees through her, and not daring to proceed as she might do in his absence., This had been a proof of life, however, of service to her sister; and Henrietta, though perfectly incapable of being in the same room with Louisa, was kept, by the agitation of hope and fear, from a return of her own insensibility., Bless me!, She could only hang over little Charles, with most disordered feelings., A few days had made a change indeed!, Captain Benwick had resigned the poor corpse-like figure entirely to the brother's care, and was off for the town with the utmost rapidity., Elizabeth arm in arm with Miss Carteret, and looking on the broad back of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple before her, had nothing to wish for which did not seem within her reach; and Anne--but it would be an insult to the nature of Anne's felicity, to draw any comparison between it and her sister's; the origin of one all selfish vanity, of the other all generous attachment., " Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing; but the age of emotion she certainly had not. ", How unworthily occupied!, Will not this manner of speaking of him, Mrs Smith, convince you that he is nothing to me?, "I have not the smallest objection on that account," replied Anne., They were evidently in excellent spirits, and she was soon to listen to the causes., I wish Frederick would spread a little more canvass, and bring us home one of these young ladies to Kellynch., Do not you agree with me, that it is the best thing he could do, both for himself and Mrs Shirley?, The girls were now hunting for the Laconia; and Captain Wentworth could not deny himself the pleasure of taking the precious volume into his own hands to save them the trouble, and once more read aloud the little statement of her name and rate, and present non-commissioned class, observing over it that she too had been one of the best friends man ever had. ", In the first place, I had a note from Mrs Croft yesterday, offering to convey anything to you; a very kind, friendly note indeed, addressed to me, just as it ought; I shall therefore be able to make my letter as long as I like., They secure an introduction., I wish nature had made such hearts as yours more common, but I have lived three-and-twenty years in the world, and have seen none like it., your manner might be only the ease which your engagement to another man would give., "I will not oppose such kind politeness; but I should be sorry to be examined by a real proficient.", You need not say anything more of your ignorance., "I should be extremely happy; I hope you cannot doubt my willingness to be of even the slightest use to you," replied Anne; "but I suspect that you are considering me as having a higher claim on Mr Elliot, a greater right to influence him, than is really the case., With regard to Charles Hayter, she had delicacy which must be pained by any lightness of conduct in a well-meaning young woman, and a heart to sympathize in any of the sufferings it occasioned; but if Henrietta found herself mistaken in the nature of her feelings, the alternation could not be understood too soon., He continued at the window; and after calmly and politely saying, "I hope the little boy is better," was silent., He had no sooner been free from the horror and remorse attending the first few days of Louisa's accident, no sooner begun to feel himself alive again, than he had begun to feel himself, though alive, not at liberty., However, when I found how excessively he was regretting that he should miss my father this morning, I gave way immediately, for I would never really omit an opportunity of bring him and Sir Walter together., They were always perfectly agreed in the want of more money, and a strong inclination for a handsome present from his father; but here, as on most topics, he had the superiority, for while Mary thought it a great shame that such a present was not made, he always contended for his father's having many other uses for his money, and a right to spend it as he liked., could the originals of the portraits against the wainscot, could the gentlemen in brown velvet and the ladies in blue satin have seen what was going on, have been conscious of such an overthrow of all order and neatness!, But now for Louisa., Poor Harville, sister!, There they exchanged again those feelings and those promises which had once before seemed to secure everything, but which had been followed by so many, many years of division and estrangement., They all three called in Rivers Street for a couple of minutes; but Anne convinced herself that a day's delay of the intended communication could be of no consequence, and hastened forward to the White Hart, to see again the friends and companions of the last autumn, with an eagerness of good-will which many associations contributed to form., He is only a commander, it is true, made last summer, and these are bad times for getting on, but he has not another fault that I know of., Anne had never entered Kellynch since her quitting Lady Russell's house in September., At last Miss Elliot and her friend, unattended but by the servant, (for there was no cousin returned), were walking off; and Captain Wentworth, watching them, turned again to Anne, and by manner, rather than words, was offering his services to her., A house was never taken good care of, Mr Shepherd observed, without a lady: he did not know, whether furniture might not be in danger of suffering as much where there was no lady, as where there were many children., It did seem, last autumn, as if there were an attachment between him and Louisa Musgrove; but I hope it may be understood to have worn out on each side equally, and without violence., "As to all that," rejoined Sir Walter coolly, "supposing I were induced to let my house, I have by no means made up my mind as to the privileges to be annexed to it., Mary had shewn herself disobliging to him, and was now to reap the consequence, which consequence was his dropping her arm almost every moment to cut off the heads of some nettles in the hedge with his switch; and when Mary began to complain of it, and lament her being ill-used, according to custom, in being on the hedge side, while Anne was never incommoded on the other, he dropped the arms of both to hunt after a weasel which he had a momentary glance of, and they could hardly get him along at all., Hers is a line for seeing human nature; and she has a fund of good sense and observation, which, as a companion, make her infinitely superior to thousands of those who having only received `the best education in the world,' know nothing worth attending to., Charles gave it for Louisa, Mary for Henrietta, but quite agreeing that to have him marry either could be extremely delightful., Anne had a great deal to hear of Mr Elliot., But she does not do him justice, nor think enough about Winthrop., To spare Henrietta from agitation seemed the governing principle., " Anne, far from wishing to cavil at the pleasure, replied, "I can easily believe it., Here is complete proof.", and I desire you will never insult me with my second W. again, meaning, for the rest of my life, to be only yours truly,--, Surprise was the strongest emotion raised by their appearance; but Anne was really glad to see them; and the others were not so sorry but that they could put on a decent air of welcome; and as soon as it became clear that these, their nearest relations, were not arrived with an views of accommodation in that house, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were able to rise in cordiality, and do the honours of it very well., After a moment's pause, Captain Wentworth said--, I have a great idea that you do not design to be cruel, when the right moment occurs., She was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing: indiscreet, improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it., No, no; you were better employed., Mrs Smith had been carried away from her first direction, and Anne had forgotten, in the interest of her own family concerns, how much had been originally implied against him; but her attention was now called to the explanation of those first hints, and she listened to a recital which, if it did not perfectly justify the unqualified bitterness of Mrs Smith, proved him to have been very unfeeling in his conduct towards her; very deficient both in justice and compassion., Indeed, Mrs Smith, we must not expect to get real information in such a line., Anne felt an instant oppression, and wherever she looked saw symptoms of the same., She disliked Bath, and did not think it agreed with her; and Bath was to be her home., Materials were at hand, on a separate table; he went to it, and nearly turning his back to them all, was engrossed by writing., Yet she soon began to rejoice that she had heard them., Do you think Lady Russell would like that?", He had frequently observed, as he walked, that one handsome face would be followed by thirty, or five-and-thirty frights; and once, as he had stood in a shop on Bond Street, he had counted eighty-seven women go by, one after another, without there being a tolerable face among them., I sent him away with smiles., They ascended and passed him; and as they passed, Anne's face caught his eye, and he looked at her with a degree of earnest admiration, which she could not be insensible of., But now, another occupation and solicitude of mind was beginning to be added to these., Facts shall speak., Could Anne have foreseen such a junction, she would have staid at home; but, from some feelings of interest and curiosity, she fancied now that it was too late to retract, and the whole six set forward together in the direction chosen by the Miss Musgroves, who evidently considered the walk as under their guidance., One could not be connected with better people., It was a much safer place for a gentleman in his predicament: he might there be important at comparatively little expense., Charles, my dear," (beckoning him to her), "do ask Captain Wentworth where it was he first met with your poor brother., An account of the concert was immediately claimed; and Anne's recollections of the concert were quite happy enough to animate her features and make her rejoice to talk of it., When this was told, his name distressed her no longer., Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret--they would soon be innoxious cousins to her., When he did perceive and acknowledge her, however, it was done with all his usual frankness and good humour. ", Well, I am very glad indeed: but I always thought you would have it; I always thought you sure., " There could not be an objection., I cannot believe his prospects so blighted for ever., She wished him not so near her., " This was the principle on which Anne wanted her father to be proceeding, his friends to be urging him., Their minds most dissimilar!, I am not saying that she did not err in her advice., He must wish her good night; he was going; he should get home as fast as he could.", very well done indeed!, Admiral Croft's manners were not quite of the tone to suit Lady Russell, but they delighted Anne., No, it was not regret which made Anne's heart beat in spite of herself, and brought the colour into her cheeks when she thought of Captain Wentworth unshackled and free., "I knew you by report long before you came to Bath., Anne found an unexpected interest here., It was now proved that he belonged to the same inn as themselves; and this second meeting, short as it was, also proved again by the gentleman's looks, that he thought hers very lovely, and by the readiness and propriety of his apologies, that he was a man of exceedingly good manners., Sir Walter thought much of Mrs Wallis; she was said to be an excessively pretty woman, beautiful. ", Neither the dissipations of the past--and she had lived very much in the world--nor the restrictions of the present, neither sickness nor sorrow seemed to have closed her heart or ruined her spirits., My best love, of course.", Anne was so impressed by the degree of their danger, that she could not excuse herself from trying to make it perceptible to her sister., Chapter 12 Anne and Henrietta, finding themselves the earliest of the party the next morning, agreed to stroll down to the sea before breakfast., You see how it has carried away her freckles.", I have really a curiosity to see the person who can give occasion to such directly opposite notions., "My dear Frederick, you are talking quite idly., At last, Lady Russell drew back her head. ", I always forgot.", Mrs Harville says her husband feels a good deal on his poor sister's account; but, however, Louisa is a great favourite with both., Two material advantages of Bath over London had of course been given all their weight: its more convenient distance from Kellynch, only fifty miles, and Lady Russell's spending some part of every winter there; and to the very great satisfaction of Lady Russell, whose first views on the projected change had been for Bath, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were induced to believe that they should lose neither consequence nor enjoyment by settling there., "By all means," said she; "only tell me all about it, when you do come., As Mr Elliot became known to her, she grew more charitable, or more indifferent, towards the others., "Perhaps I ought to have reasoned thus," he replied, "but I could not., It was very desirable that Lady Russell should be no longer deceived; and one of the concluding arrangements of this important conference, which carried them through the greater part of the morning, was, that Anne had full liberty to communicate to her friend everything relative to Mrs Smith, in which his conduct was involved., "Well," said Anne, "I certainly am proud, too proud to enjoy a welcome which depends so entirely upon place.", on Tuesday night, he made a very awkward sort of excuse; `he never shot' and he had `been quite misunderstood,' and he had promised this and he had promised that, and the end of it was, I found, that he did not mean to come., I was very well yesterday; nothing at all the matter with me till this morning., "That cannot be much to your taste, I know," said she; "but I do believe him to be an excellent young man.", Lady Russell and Anne paid their compliments to them once, when Anne could not but feel that Uppercross was already quite alive again., The husband had not been what he ought, and the wife had been led among that part of mankind which made her think worse of the world than she hoped it deserved., And as to Captain Wentworth's liking Louisa as well as Henrietta, it is nonsense to say so; for he certainly does like Henrietta a great deal the best., Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character; vanity of person and of situation., Westgate Buildings!" said he, "and who is Miss Anne Elliot to be visiting in Westgate Buildings?, While Admiral Croft was taking this walk with Anne, and expressing his wish of getting Captain Wentworth to Bath, Captain Wentworth was already on his way thither., There was no delay, no waste of time., He was a married man, and without children; the very state to be wished for., I have engaged Captain Wentworth., She had soon the mortification of seeing Mr Elliot withdraw, and no one of proper condition has since presented himself to raise even the unfounded hopes which sunk with him., cried he, catching the same tone; "I honour you!", Anne felt that she should like to know who he was., Yes, here I am, Sophia, quite ready to make a foolish match., What! would I be turned back from doing a thing that I had determined to do, and that I knew to be right, by the airs and interference of such a person, or of any person I may say?, Having alluded to "an accident," he must hear the whole., She saw that there had been bad habits; that Sunday travelling had been a common thing; that there had been a period of his life (and probably not a short one) when he had been, at least, careless in all serious matters; and, though he might now think very differently, who could answer for the true sentiments of a clever, cautious man, grown old enough to appreciate a fair character?, Towards the close of it, in the interval succeeding an Italian song, she explained the words of the song to Mr Elliot., You were single., No one had ever come within the Kellynch circle, who could bear a comparison with Frederick Wentworth, as he stood in her memory., Mary talked, but she could not attend., Anne, I am so very unwell!, They talked for a few minutes more; the improvement held; he even looked down towards the bench, as if he saw a place on it well worth occupying; when at that moment a touch on her shoulder obliged Anne to turn round., But I mean, that I was right in submitting to her, and that if I had done otherwise, I should have suffered more in continuing the engagement than I did even in giving it up, because I should have suffered in my conscience., Depend upon me for taking care that no tenant has more than his just rights., What do you take his age to be?', She was sure that he had not been happy in marriage., of Uppercross, in the county of Somerset," and by inserting most accurately the day of the month on which he had lost his wife., After talking, however, of the weather, and Bath, and the concert, their conversation began to flag, and so little was said at last, that she was expecting him to go every moment, but he did not; he seemed in no hurry to leave her; and presently with renewed spirit, with a little smile, a little glow, he said-- "I have hardly seen you since our day at Lyme., Could it be Mr Elliot?, Your countenance perfectly informs me that you were in company last night with the person whom you think the most agreeable in the world, the person who interests you at this present time more than all the rest of the world put together.", Captain Wentworth was come to Kellynch as to a home, to stay as long as he liked, being as thoroughly the object of the Admiral's fraternal kindness as of his wife's., The sea is no beautifier, certainly; sailors do grow old betimes; I have observed it; they soon lose the look of youth., I really think they ought., She had never been staying there before, without being struck by it, or without wishing that other Elliots could have her advantage in seeing how unknown, or unconsidered there, were the affairs which at Kellynch Hall were treated as of such general publicity and pervading interest; yet, with all this experience, she believed she must now submit to feel that another lesson, in the art of knowing our own nothingness beyond our own circle, was become necessary for her; for certainly, coming as she did, with a heart full of the subject which had been completely occupying both houses in Kellynch for many weeks, she had expected rather more curiosity and sympathy than she found in the separate but very similar remark of Mr and Mrs Musgrove: "So, Miss Anne, Sir Walter and your sister are gone; and what part of Bath do you think they will settle in?" and this, without much waiting for an answer; or in the young ladies' addition of, "I hope we shall be in Bath in the winter; but remember, papa, if we do go, we must be in a good situation: none of your Queen Squares for us!", And all this was said with a truth and sincerity of feeling irresistible., She had never in her life been more astonished., That was all prior to my coming to Bath., There was not the smallest appearance of solicitude or remark about them in the Mansion-house; but it was different at the Cottage: the young couple there were more disposed to speculate and wonder; and Captain Wentworth had not been above four or five times in the Miss Musgroves' company, and Charles Hayter had but just reappeared, when Anne had to listen to the opinions of her brother and sister, as to which was the one liked best., `Why, to be sure, ma'am,' said she, `it would not prevent his marrying anybody else.', Oh! there was no end of Miss Elliot's charms.", Chapter 9, You never mentioned it before., He certainly knew what was right, nor could she fix on any one article of moral duty evidently transgressed; but yet she would have been afraid to answer for his conduct., So, you are come at last!, The cheeks which had been pale now glowed, and the movements which had hesitated were decided., When Lady Russell not long afterwards, was entering Bath on a wet afternoon, and driving through the long course of streets from the Old Bridge to Camden Place, amidst the dash of other carriages, the heavy rumble of carts and drays, the bawling of newspapermen, muffin-men and milkmen, and the ceaseless clink of pattens, she made no complaint., He came in with eagerness, appeared to see and think only of her, apologised for his stay, was grieved to have kept her waiting, and anxious to get her away without further loss of time and before the rain increased; and in another moment they walked off together, her arm under his, a gentle and embarrassed glance, and a "Good morning to you!" being all that she had time for, as she passed away., No comparison., The belief of being prudent, and self-denying, principally for his advantage, was her chief consolation, under the misery of a parting, a final parting; and every consolation was required, for she had to encounter all the additional pain of opinions, on his side, totally unconvinced and unbending, and of his feeling himself ill used by so forced a relinquishment., In the centre of some of the best preserves in the kingdom, surrounded by three great proprietors, each more careful and jealous than the other; and to two of the three at least, Charles Hayter might get a special recommendation., Would they only have gone away, and left her in the quiet possession of that room it would have been her cure; but to have them all standing or waiting around her was distracting, and in desperation, she said she would go home., No, it was not to be supposed that Lady Russell would perceive him till they were nearly opposite., "You will see them yet, perhaps, before the morning is gone., Captain Wentworth now hurried off to get everything ready on his part, and to be soon followed by the two ladies., every comfort of life knocked off!, But I will try to command myself., Mr Elliot came back accordingly; and on application was forgiven, as you know, and re-admitted into the family; and there it was his constant object, and his only object (till your arrival added another motive), to watch Sir Walter and Mrs Clay., "I had not the smallest intention of asking him," said Elizabeth, with affected carelessness, "but he gave so many hints; so Mrs Clay says, at least." ", "For shame! for shame!, The Admiral does not seem very ill, and I sincerely hope Bath will do him all the good he wants., Their interesting, almost too interesting conversation must be broken up for a time, but slight was the penance compared with the happiness which brought it on!, "I have not seen Mr Elliot these three years," was Mrs Smith's answer, given so gravely that it was impossible to pursue the subject farther; and Anne felt that she had gained nothing but an increase of curiosity., They were of sobering tendency; they allayed agitation; they composed, and consequently must make her happier., I am going home.", It would be well for the eldest sister if she were equally satisfied with her situation, for a change is not very probable there., her father and mother!", He was steady, observant, moderate, candid; never run away with by spirits or by selfishness, which fancied itself strong feeling; and yet, with a sensibility to what was amiable and lovely, and a value for all the felicities of domestic life, which characters of fancied enthusiasm and violent agitation seldom really possess., : I always forget her Christian name., There are on both sides good principles and good temper.", She only attempted to say, "How do you do?, Here," said he, "ended the worst of my state; for now I could at least put myself in the way of happiness; I could exert myself; I could do something., Do come, Anne" cried Mary, "come and look yourself., Should he ever propose to me (which I have very little reason to imagine he has any thought of doing), I shall not accept him., So, I give you notice, Lady Russell.", The theatre or the rooms, where he was most likely to be, were not fashionable enough for the Elliots, whose evening amusements were solely in the elegant stupidity of private parties, in which they were getting more and more engaged; and Anne, wearied of such a state of stagnation, sick of knowing nothing, and fancying herself stronger because her strength was not tried, was quite impatient for the concert evening., Strangers filling their place!", This was his only secret exception, when he said to his sister, in answer to her suppositions:-- ", Each lady was previously well disposed for an agreement, and saw nothing, therefore, but good manners in the other; and with regard to the gentlemen, there was such an hearty good humour, such an open, trusting liberality on the Admiral's side, as could not but influence Sir Walter, who had besides been flattered into his very best and most polished behaviour by Mr Shepherd's assurances of his being known, by report, to the Admiral, as a model of good breeding., In a long strip of meadow land, where there was ample space for all, they were thus divided, forming three distinct parties; and to that party of the three which boasted least animation, and least complaisance, Anne necessarily belonged., Mrs Musgrove, who thought only of one sort of illness, having assured herself with some anxiety,, A short period of exquisite felicity followed, and but a short one., He was, at that time, a remarkably fine young man, with a great deal of intelligence, spirit, and brilliancy; and Anne an extremely pretty girl, with gentleness, modesty, taste, and feeling., I shall certainly go; I am sure I ought if I can, quite as much as Charles, for they want me excessively to be acquainted with Captain Wentworth, and I know you do not mind being left alone., Very unfeeling!, Anne was too much engaged with Lady Russell to be often walking herself; but it so happened that one morning, about a week or ten days after the Croft's arrival, it suited her best to leave her friend, or her friend's carriage, in the lower part of the town, and return alone to Camden Place, and in walking up Milsom Street she had the good fortune to meet with the Admiral., If she would only wear rouge she would not be afraid of being seen; but last time I called, I observed the blinds were let down immediately.", I am quite of your opinion., I wish his friends would propose it to him., From this time Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot were repeatedly in the same circle., A few months hence, and the room now so deserted, occupied but by her silent, pensive self, might be filled again with all that was happy and gay, all that was glowing and bright in prosperous love, all that was most unlike Anne Elliot!, He had never indulged much hope, he had now none, of ever reading her name in any other page of his favourite work., Yours affectionately, "Mary M---., The other two warmly agreed with what he said, and she then appeared., It was a fine family-piece., If a rich admiral were to come in our way, Sir Walter--" ", "Perhaps I shall., It is a pity they are not knocked on the head at once, before they reach Admiral Baldwin's age.", The manoeuvres of selfishness and duplicity must ever be revolting, but I have heard nothing which really surprises me., There had been music, singing, talking, laughing, all that was most agreeable; charming manners in Captain Wentworth, no shyness or reserve; they seemed all to know each other perfectly, and he was coming the very next morning to shoot with Charles., He and Mary had been persuaded to go early to their inn last night., You know James Benwick.", "It was at Gibraltar, mother, I know., The part which provoked her most, was that in all this waste of foresight and caution, she should have lost the right moment for seeing whether he saw them., They were people whom her heart turned to very naturally., Captain Wentworth had no fortune., The Mr Musgroves had their own game to guard, and to destroy, their own horses, dogs, and newspapers to engage them, and the females were fully occupied in all the other common subjects of housekeeping, neighbours, dress, dancing, and music., But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men.", The Crofts had placed themselves in lodgings in Gay Street, perfectly to Sir Walter's satisfaction., She was in good humour with all., They had an early account from Lyme the next morning., what a boat it is!", "Perhaps," cried Anne, struck by a sudden idea, "you sometimes spoke of me to Mr Elliot?", This, to Anne, was a decided imperfection., Nobody doubts it; and I hope you do not think I am so illiberal as to want every man to have the same objects and pleasures as myself., You talk of being proud; I am called proud, I know, and I shall not wish to believe myself otherwise; for our pride, if investigated, would have the same object, I have no doubt, though the kind may seem a little different., It was altogether very extraordinary; flattering, but painful., He was determined, at least, not to mar it by an imprudent marriage; and I know it was his belief (whether justly or not, of course I cannot decide), that your father and sister, in their civilities and invitations, were designing a match between the heir and the young lady, and it was impossible that such a match should have answered his ideas of wealth and independence., ", `How d'ye do?', "Depend upon it, they were all perfectly comfortable.", His manners were an immediate recommendation; and on conversing with him she found the solid so fully supporting the superficial, that she was at first, as she told Anne, almost ready to exclaim, "Can this be Mr Elliot?" and could not seriously picture to herself a more agreeable or estimable man., She knew herself to be of the first utility to the child; and what was it to her if Frederick Wentworth were only half a mile distant, making himself agreeable to others?, Why was it?, The minutiae of the business Anne could not attempt to understand; even Captain Wentworth did not seem admitted to perfect confidence here; but that there had been a withdrawing on the gentleman's side, and a relenting on the lady's, and that they were now very glad to be together again, did not admit a doubt., One would imagine you had never heard my father speak of her personal misfortunes, though I know you must fifty times., Mary does not above half like Henrietta's match., "Putting all these very extraordinary circumstances together," said Captain Wentworth, "we must consider it to be the arrangement of Providence, that you should not be introduced to your cousin.", Facts or opinions which are to pass through the hands of so many, to be misconceived by folly in one, and ignorance in another, can hardly have much truth left.", Have you forgot that we are engaged to Camden Place to-morrow night?, But Mrs Musgrove, who got Anne near her on purpose to thank her most cordially, again and again, for all her attentions to them, concluded a short recapitulation of what she had suffered herself by observing, with a happy glance round the room, that after all she had gone through, nothing was so likely to do her good as a little quiet cheerfulness at home., Mr Elliot had called repeatedly, had dined with them once, evidently delighted by the distinction of being asked, for they gave no dinners in general; delighted, in short, by every proof of cousinly notice, and placing his whole happiness in being on intimate terms in Camden Place., The name of Anne Elliot," said he, "has long had an interesting sound to me., On going down to breakfast the next morning, she found there had just been a decent pretence on the lady's side of meaning to leave them., the resolution of coming back to Bath as soon as possible, and of fixing himself here for a time, with the view of renewing his former acquaintance, and recovering such a footing in the family as might give him the means of ascertaining the degree of his danger, and of circumventing the lady if he found it material., The present was that Captain Wentworth would move about well in her drawing-room., Mr Elliot, too, it must be remembered, had not been a widower seven months., Mary sat down for a moment, but it would not do; she was sure Louisa had found a better seat somewhere else, and she would go on till she overtook her., "A very fine young man indeed!" said Lady Dalrymple., Anne was conscious of not doing it so well as Lady Russell., Colonel Wallis said it, and Lady Russell saw it; but it had been no unhappiness to sour his mind, nor (she began pretty soon to suspect) to prevent his thinking of a second choice., Breakfast had not been long over, when they were joined by Captain and Mrs Harville and Captain Benwick; with whom they had appointed to take their last walk about Lyme., But it was more probable that he should be come to stay., Lady Russell's had no success at all: could not be put up with, were not to be borne. ", cried Sir Walter., I observed no one in particular.", "Yes, that he will!", It included nearly a third part of her own life., She exclaimed, however, with a very tolerable imitation of nature: -- "Oh! dear! very true., " They were not much interested in anything relative to Anne; but still there were questions enough asked, to make it understood what this old schoolfellow was; and Elizabeth was disdainful, and Sir Walter severe. ", He did not mean to say that there were no pretty women, but the number of the plain was out of all proportion., Nobody supposes that you were his first inducement., To her, its greatest interest must be, in having been very much talked of between her friend and Mr Elliot; in having been wished for, regretted, and at the same time honoured for staying away in such a cause., You can have been acquainted with it only since I came to Bath, excepting as you might hear me previously spoken of in my own family.", "A little., Mr Elliot was there; she avoided, but she could pity him., The two ladies continued to talk, to re-urge the same admitted truths, and enforce them with such examples of the ill effect of a contrary practice as had fallen within their observation, but Anne heard nothing distinctly; it was only a buzz of words in her ear, her mind was in confusion., She, however, was soon persuaded to think differently., Elizabeth's last letter had communicated a piece of news of some interest., The Miss Musgroves agreed to it; and having all kindly watched him as far up the hill as they could, they returned to the breakfast table., I shall have done in five minutes.", Louisa had fine naval fervour to begin with, and they would soon grow more alike., If he will adopt these regulations, in seven years he will be clear; and I hope we may be able to convince him and Elizabeth, that Kellynch Hall has a respectability in itself which cannot be affected by these reductions; and that the true dignity of Sir Walter Elliot will be very far from lessened in the eyes of sensible people, by acting like a man of principle., I have no pleasure in the sort of meeting, and should be too happy to change it for a play, and with you., You must, indeed, you must., What Anne first heard was-- "And so, I made her go., He had begun to talk of it a week ago; and by way of doing something, as shooting was over, Charles had proposed coming with him, and Mrs Harville had seemed to like the idea of it very much, as an advantage to her husband; but Mary could not bear to be left, and had made herself so unhappy about it, that for a day or two everything seemed to be in suspense, or at an end., Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death., "I hope I am as fond of my child as any mother, but I do not know that I am of any more use in the sick-room than Charles, for I cannot be always scolding and teazing the poor child when it is ill; and you saw, this morning, that if I told him to keep quiet, he was sure to begin kicking about., The high-spirited, joyous-talking Louisa Musgrove, and the dejected, thinking, feeling, reading, Captain Benwick, seemed each of them everything that would not suit the other., A lady, without a family, was the very best preserver of furniture in the world., Though it was rather desirable that Mr and Mrs Musgrove should be previously alarmed by some share of delay; yet the time required by the Uppercross horses to take them back, would be a dreadful extension of suspense; and Captain Wentworth proposed, and Charles Musgrove agreed, that it would be much better for him to take a chaise from the inn, and leave Mr Musgrove's carriage and horses to be sent home the next morning early, when there would be the farther advantage of sending an account of Louisa's night., One of five thousand Mr Smiths whose names are to be met with everywhere., You saw how hysterical I was yesterday.", I could not bring it into play; it was overwhelmed, buried, lost in those earlier feelings which I had been smarting under year after year., Anne hoped the gentlemen might each be too much self-occupied to hear. ", The rest was all tranquillity; till, just as they were moving, she heard the Admiral say to Mary-- "We are expecting a brother of Mrs Croft's here soon; I dare say you know him by name.", Will it make you happy?, Now Mary, I declare it was so, Mrs Smith looked at her again, looked earnestly, smiled, shook her head, and exclaimed--, We asked him to come home with us for a day or two: Charles undertook to give him some shooting, and he seemed quite delighted, and, for my part, I thought it was all settled; when behold!, "Ay, ay, Miss Louisa Musgrove, that is the name., ", He is one of the dullest young men that ever lived., Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves, and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of 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., "You have not been long enough in Bath," said he, "to enjoy the evening parties of the place.", Mrs Croft was attending with great good-humour, and whenever she spoke at all, it was very sensibly., The undesirableness of any other house in the same neighbourhood for Sir Walter was certainly much strengthened by one part, and a very material part of the scheme, which had been happily engrafted on the beginning., Mr Elliot's speech, too, distressed her., She found, however, that it was one to which she must inure herself., After a little succession of these sort of debates and consultations, it was settled between Charles and his two sisters, that he and Henrietta should just run down for a few minutes, to see their aunt and cousins, while the rest of the party waited for them at the top of the hill., Not a puncture, not a weak spot anywhere., I have now another motive for being glad that I can produce it.", He was not Mr Wentworth, the former curate of Monkford, however suspicious appearances may be, but, I suppose he was afraid of finding it dull; but upon my word I should have thought we were lively enough at the Cottage for such a heart-broken man as Captain Benwick.", Captain Wentworth believed it impossible for man to be more attached to woman than poor Benwick had been to Fanny Harville, or to be more deeply afflicted under the dreadful change., Anne had soon been in company with all the four together often enough to have an opinion, though too wise to acknowledge as much at home, where she knew it would have satisfied neither husband nor wife; for while she considered Louisa to be rather the favourite, she could not but think, as far as she might dare to judge from memory and experience, that Captain Wentworth was not in love with either., I am no card-player.", " How was Anne to set all these matters to rights?, This meeting of the two parties proved highly satisfactory, and decided the whole business at once., Mrs Croft always met her with a kindness which gave her the pleasure of fancying herself a favourite, and on the present occasion, receiving her in that house, there was particular attention., It was a very fine November day, and the Miss Musgroves came through the little grounds, and stopped for no other purpose than to say, that they were going to take a long walk, and therefore concluded Mary could not like to go with them; and when Mary immediately replied, with some jealousy at not being supposed a good walker, "Oh, yes, I should like to join you very much, I am very fond of a long walk;" Anne felt persuaded, by the looks of the two girls, that it was precisely what they did not wish, and admired again the sort of necessity which the family habits seemed to produce, of everything being to be communicated, and everything being to be done together, however undesired and inconvenient., Some one must resolve on being off for Uppercross instantly., Let me recommend Mr Elliot., To live no longer with the decencies even of a private gentleman!, She should put it off as long as she could;" but was not easy till she had talked Charles into driving her over on an early day, and was in a very animated, comfortable state of imaginary agitation, when she came back., If Elizabeth could but have heard this!, "No, nothing.", But there was another, and an earlier, which I will now explain., Anne kept her appointment; the others kept theirs, and of course she heard the next morning that they had had a delightful evening., Without that attraction, not all her money would have tempted Elliot, and Sir Walter was, moreover, assured of her having been a very fine woman., "Phoo! phoo!", She looked instinctively at Lady Russell; but not from any mad idea of her recognising him so soon as she did herself., There was one point which Anne, on returning to her family, would have been more thankful to ascertain even than Mr Elliot's being in love with Elizabeth, which was, her father's not being in love with Mrs Clay; and she was very far from easy about it, when she had been at home a few hours., Anne drew a little back, while the others received his compliments, and her sister his apologies for calling at so unusual an hour, but "he could not be so near without wishing to know that neither she nor her friend had taken cold the day before," &c. &c; which was all as politely done, and as politely taken, as possible, but her part must follow then., Mary had acquired a little artificial importance, by becoming Mrs Charles Musgrove; but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister; her word had no weight, her convenience was always to give way--, "When once married people begin to attack me with,--`Oh!, There the news must follow him, but who was to tell it?, Have a little mercy on the poor men., He had been prevented setting off for Thornberry, but I really forget by what; for I was in a hurry, and could not much attend, and I can only answer for his being determined not to be delayed in his return., Mrs Musgrove and Mrs Hayter were sisters., When he questioned, Sir Walter and Elizabeth began to question also, but the difference in their manner of doing it could not be unfelt., What is Mr Elliot to me?", 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., They had been thrown together several weeks; they had been living in the same small family party: since Henrietta's coming away, they must have been depending almost entirely on each other, and Louisa, just recovering from illness, had been in an interesting state, and Captain Benwick was not inconsolable., The neglect had been visited on the head of the sinner; for when poor Lady Elliot died herself, no letter of condolence was received at Kellynch, and, consequently, there was but too much reason to apprehend that the Dalrymples considered the relationship as closed., He had been several years at sea, and had, in the course of those removals to which all midshipmen are liable, and especially such midshipmen as every captain wishes to get rid of, been six months on board Captain Frederick Wentworth's frigate, the Laconia; and from the Laconia he had, under the influence of his captain, written the only two letters which his father and mother had ever received from him during the whole of his absence; that is to say, the only two disinterested letters; all the rest had been mere applications for money., We were only in anxiety and distress during the last two hours, and previously there had been a great deal of enjoyment., then recollecting herself, and not wishing to be answered, she added, "I certainly do think there has been by far too much trouble taken to procure the acquaintance., Poor old gentleman.", No, you would not guess, from his way of writing, that he had ever thought of this Miss (what's her name?) for himself., The Admiral, after taking two or three refreshing turns about the room with his hands behind him, being called to order by his wife, now came up to Captain Wentworth, and without any observation of what he might be interrupting, thinking only of his own thoughts, began with-- "If you had been a week later at Lisbon, last spring, Frederick, you would have been asked to give a passage to Lady Mary Grierson and her daughters.", When she could command Mary's attention, Anne quietly tried to convince her that their father and Mr Elliot had not, for many years, been on such terms as to make the power of attempting an introduction at all desirable., The Kellynch property was good, but not equal to Sir Walter's apprehension of the state required in its possessor., I thought them particularly pleasing, and I will answer for it, they would generally please.", "Now I have done," cried Captain Wentworth., At the same time, however, it was a secret gratification to herself to have seen her cousin, and to know that the future owner of Kellynch was undoubtedly a gentleman, and had an air of good sense., Anne entered it with a sinking heart, anticipating an imprisonment of many months, and anxiously saying to herself, "Oh! when shall I leave you again?", That he did not regard it as a desperate case, that he did not say a few hours must end it, was at first felt, beyond the hope of most; and the ecstasy of such a reprieve, the rejoicing, deep and silent, after a few fervent ejaculations of gratitude to Heaven had been offered, may be conceived., Forty?", It suits us very well., The Crofts will associate with them., It is early.", there was no getting away from one's self., I hope you think Louisa perfectly recovered now?", " Their attention was called towards the others., The Musgroves came back to receive their happy boys and girls from school, bringing with them Mrs Harville's little children, to improve the noise of Uppercross, and lessen that of Lyme., Charles, in the meanwhile, was very decidedly declaring his resolution of calling on his aunt, now that he was so near; and very evidently, though more fearfully, trying to induce his wife to go too., Then might she again take up the book of books with as much enjoyment as in her early youth, but now she liked it not., He felt it all, so much for her sake., He thought it a very degrading alliance; and Lady Russell, though with more tempered and pardonable pride, received it as a most unfortunate one., A few months had seen the beginning and the end of their acquaintance; but not with a few months ended Anne's share of suffering from it., Captain Harville has no thought but of going.", She had the kindest "Good morning, God bless you!" from Captain Harville, but from him not a word, nor a look!, You must consider me only as Mr Elliot's relation., It is a very fair match, as times go; and I have liked Charles Hayter all my life, and I shall not leave off now.", However, I do not mean to say they have not a right to it., Mrs Clay," said she, warmly, "never forgets who she is; and as I am rather better acquainted with her sentiments than you can be, I can assure you, that upon the subject of marriage they are particularly nice, and that she reprobates all inequality of condition and rank more strongly than most people., He considered his disposition as of the sort which must suffer heavily, uniting very strong feelings with quiet, serious, and retiring manners, and a decided taste for reading, and sedentary pursuits., The moment of her stepping forward in the Octagon Room to speak to him: the moment of Mr Elliot's appearing and tearing her away, and one or two subsequent moments, marked by returning hope or increasing despondency, were dwelt on with energy. ", It seemed to announce a different sort of man.", I have always heard of Lady Russell as a woman of the greatest influence with everybody!, I used to boast of my own Anne Elliot, and vouch for your being a very different creature from--, She was in the carriage, and felt that he had placed her there, that his will and his hands had done it, that she owed it to his perception of her fatigue, and his resolution to give her rest., Perhaps you may not have heard that he is married?" added Mrs Croft., Anne did think on the question with perfect decision, and said as much in reply as her own feeling could accomplish, or as his seemed able to bear, for he was too much affected to renew the subject, and when he spoke again, it was of something totally different., She was certainly not a woman of family, but well educated, accomplished, rich, and excessively in love with his friend., Anne was shewn some letters of his on the occasion, answers to urgent applications from Mrs Smith, which all breathed the same stern resolution of not engaging in a fruitless trouble, and, under a cold civility, the same hard-hearted indifference to any of the evils it might bring on her., "Did you go then?, I have not seen one of them to-day, except Mr Musgrove, who just stopped and spoke through the window, but without getting off his horse; and though I told him how ill I was, not one of them have been near me., Shall I mention to him your being in Bath?, My own self., "Yes. I have shewn you Mr Elliot as he was a dozen years ago, and I will shew him as he is now., He does not give the least fling at Benwick; does not so much as say, `I wonder at it, I have a reason of my own for wondering at it.', Chapter 2, Your home, country, friends, all quitted., Mr and Mrs Musgrove, either from seeing little, or from an entire confidence in the discretion of both their daughters, and of all the young men who came near them, seemed to leave everything to take its chance., Perhaps he had quitted the field, had given Louisa up, had ceased to love, had found he did not love her., The chair was earnestly protested against, and, I have been doubting and considering as to what I ought to tell you., Do not you think, Miss Elliot, we had better try to get him to Bath?", She made no reply., To-morrow evening, to meet a few friends: no formal party., This may be bad morality to conclude with, but I believe it to be truth; and if such parties succeed, how should a Captain Wentworth and an Anne Elliot, with the advantage of maturity of mind, consciousness of right, and one independent fortune between them, fail of bearing down every opposition?, I should not go, you may be sure, if I did not feel quite at ease about my dear child.", The visit passed off altogether in high good humour., I have something to communicate that will astonish you not a little., There must be the same immediate association of thought, though she was very far from conceiving it to be of equal pain., She was forced to acknowledge that she could do no good, yet was still unwilling to be away, till, touched by the thought of her father and mother, A poor widow barely able to live, between thirty and forty; a mere Mrs Smith, an every-day Mrs Smith, of all people and all names in the world, to be the chosen friend of Miss Anne Elliot, and to be preferred by her to her own family connections among the nobility of England and Ireland!, He must love her., We are quite near relations, you know; and Mr Elliot too, whom you ought so particularly to be acquainted with!, I shall be truly glad to have them back again., " Their first meeting in Milsom Street afforded much to be said, but the concert still more., "This must have been about that very period of Mr Elliot's life," said Anne, "which has always excited my particular curiosity., There was too much wind to make the high part of the new Cobb pleasant for the ladies, and they agreed to get down the steps to the lower, and all were contented to pass quietly and carefully down the steep flight, excepting Louisa; she must be jumped down them by Captain Wentworth., It succeeded, however; and though Sir Walter must ever look with an evil eye on anyone intending to inhabit that house, and think them infinitely too well off in being permitted to rent it on the highest terms, he was talked into allowing Mr Shepherd to proceed in the treaty, and authorising him to wait on Admiral Croft, who still remained at Taunton, and fix a day for the house being seen., " said Anne., Oh! it would be a capital match for either of his sisters.", That would be a noble thing, indeed, for Henrietta!, "I have no conception whom you can mean, Shepherd; I remember no gentleman resident at Monkford since the time of old Governor Trent.", "Wentworth?, We have had a very dull Christmas;, How are your neighbours at the Great House?", here is Winthrop., Even if he did not come to Camden Place himself, it would be in her power to send an intelligible sentence by Captain Harville., Knowing their feelings as she did, it was a most attractive picture of happiness to her., That young lady, you know, that we have all been so concerned for., I want you to talk about me to Mr Elliot., Eight years, almost eight years had passed, since all had been given up., How does he know that he is going on well, or that there may not be a sudden change half an hour hence?, He gave her a very plain, intelligible account of the whole; a narration in which she saw a great deal of most characteristic proceeding., But I never went beyond the Streights, and never was in the West Indies., One can guess what will happen there., There is a sort of domestic enjoyment to be known even in a crowd, and this you had., She longed to see the Crofts; but when the meeting took place, it was evident that no rumour of the news had yet reached them., If there is anything disagreeable going on men are always sure to get out of it, and Charles is as bad as any of them., "She is pretty, I think; Anne Elliot; very pretty, when one comes to look at her., Get up and go over all the rooms in the house if you like it.", The first three or four days passed most quietly, with no circumstance to mark them excepting the receipt of a note or two from Lyme, which found their way to Anne, she could not tell how, and brought a rather improving account of Louisa., Sir Walter, without hesitation, declared the Admiral to be the best-looking sailor he had ever met with, and went so far as to say, that if his own man might have had the arranging of his hair, he should not be ashamed of being seen with him any where; and the Admiral, with sympathetic cordiality, observed to his wife as they drove back through the park, "I thought we should soon come to a deal, my dear, in spite of what they told us at Taunton., Her answers to the kindness and the remarks of her companions were at first unconsciously given., "Your feelings may be the strongest," replied Anne, "but the same spirit of analogy will authorise me to assert that ours are the most tender., You will tell Sir Walter what we have done, and that Mr Shepherd thinks it the greatest improvement the house ever had., "There is no quarrelling with you., Captain Wentworth was folding up a letter in great haste, and either could not or would not answer fully. ", was present: her father had driven her over, nothing being of so much use to Mrs Clay's health as a drive to Kellynch: "but I quite agree with my father in thinking a sailor might be a very desirable tenant., You must not run away from us now., "Yes, and Miss Atkinson, who dined with him once at the Wallises, says he is the most agreeable man she ever was in company with.", There was no wound, no blood, no visible bruise; but her eyes were closed, she breathed not, her face was like death., He got up and moved away., And very nice young ladies they both are; I hardly know one from the other.", Yes, indeed, oh yes!, "Have they any acquaintance here?, Ten minutes were enough to certify that., Could she have believed it a week ago; three hours ago!, "Bless me!, Most earnestly did she wish that he might not be too nice, or too observant if Elizabeth were his object; and that Elizabeth was disposed to believe herself so, and that her friend Mrs Clay was encouraging the idea, seemed apparent by a glance or two between them, while Mr Elliot's frequent visits were talked of., He was shy, and disposed to abstraction; but the engaging mildness of her countenance, and gentleness of her manners, soon had their effect; and Anne was well repaid the first trouble of exertion., There is always something offensive in the details of cunning., Oh!, We live at home, quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us., It was now some years since Anne had begun to learn that she and her excellent friend could sometimes think differently; and it did not surprise her, therefore, that Lady Russell should see nothing suspicious or inconsistent, nothing to require more motives than appeared, in Mr Elliot's great desire of a reconciliation., Charles and Mary still talked on in the same style; he, half serious and half jesting, maintaining the scheme for the play, and she, invariably serious, most warmly opposing it, and not omitting to make it known that, however determined to go to Camden Place herself, she should not think herself very well used, if they went to the play without her., I did invite him, you know., He would look for her, he would find her out before the evening were over, and at present, perhaps, it was as well to be asunder., I assure you, Miss Anne, it prevents my wishing to see them at our house so often as I otherwise should., Anne admired the good acting of the friend, in being able to shew such pleasure as she did, in the expectation and in the actual arrival of the very person whose presence must really be interfering with her prime object., neither of them, probably, much the wiser for what they heard, and Anne continuing fully sensible of his being less at ease than formerly., "Yes, yes, to the inn," repeated Captain Wentworth, comparatively collected, and eager to be doing something., She had seen him., They came also for a stroll till breakfast was likely to be ready; but Louisa recollecting, immediately afterwards that she had something to procure at a shop, invited them all to go back with her into the town., That brother had been long removed from the country and being a sensible man, and, moreover, a single man at the time, she had a fond dependence on no human creature's having heard of it from him., Uppercross was a moderate-sized village, which a few years back had been completely in the old English style, containing only two houses superior in appearance to those of the yeomen and labourers; the mansion of the squire, with its high walls, great gates, and old trees, substantial and unmodernized, and the compact, tight parsonage, enclosed in its own neat garden, with a vine and a pear-tree trained round its casements; but upon the marriage of the young 'squire, it had received the improvement of a farm-house elevated into a cottage, for his residence, and Uppercross Cottage, with its veranda, French windows, and other prettiness, was quite as likely to catch the traveller's eye as the more consistent and considerable aspect and premises of the Great House, about a quarter of a mile farther on., "Is not this song worth staying for?" said Anne, suddenly struck by an idea which made her yet more anxious to be encouraging. ", It is a sort of pain, too, which is new to me., "I was six weeks with Edward," said he, "and saw him happy., I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me., Lord Byron's "dark blue seas" could not fail of being brought forward by their present view, and she gladly gave him all her attention as long as attention was possible., Immediately surrounding Mrs Musgrove were the little Harvilles, whom she was sedulously guarding from the tyranny of the two children from the Cottage, expressly arrived to amuse them., Charles laughed again and said, "Now Mary, you know very well how it really was., Let me know what you think of this., Jealousy of Mr Elliot had been the retarding weight, the doubt, the torment., "Well, if you do not think it too late to give notice for yourself, suppose you were to go, as well as your husband., The disproportion in their fortune was nothing; it did not give her a moment's regret; but to have no family to receive and estimate him properly, nothing of respectability, of harmony, of good will to offer in return for all the worth and all the prompt welcome which met her in his brothers and sisters, was a source of as lively pain as her mind could well be sensible of under circumstances of otherwise strong felicity., There can be no want of gallantry, Admiral, in rating the claims of women to every personal comfort high, and this is what I do., The Kellynch estate should be transmitted whole and entire, as he had received it., Everything united in him; good understanding, correct opinions, knowledge of the world, and a warm heart., Chapter 18, "No, I did not promise., Here they were interrupted by the absolute necessity of Charles's following the others to admire mirrors and china; but Anne had heard enough to understand the present state of Uppercross, and rejoice in its happiness; and though she sighed as she rejoiced, her sigh had none of the ill-will of envy in it., I venture to hint, that Sir Walter Elliot cannot be half so jealous for his own, as John Shepherd will be for him.", "But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures., she had a red nose, but I hope that may not happen every day.", They were gradually acquainted, and when acquainted, rapidly and deeply in love., Anne could not refuse; but never had she sacrificed to politeness with a more suffering spirit., The answer was, "Oh, no; never; she has quite given up dancing., Another minute brought another addition., Elizabeth had turned from him, Lady Russell overlooked him; her nerves were strengthened by these circumstances; she felt that she owed him attention., "I think Lady Russell would like him., So far went his understanding; and his vanity supplied a little additional soothing, in the Admiral's situation in life, which was just high enough, and not too high., My wife should have the credit of them, however., Four-and-twenty hours later, and I should only have been a gallant Captain Wentworth, in a small paragraph at one corner of the newspapers; and being lost in only a sloop, nobody would have thought about me., With a great deal of quiet observation, and a knowledge, which she often wished less, of her father's character, she was sensible that results the most serious to his family from the intimacy were more than possible., They are up stairs with my sister: they will be down in a few moments, I dare say," had been Anne's reply, in all the confusion that was natural; and if the child had not called her to come and do something for him, she would have been out of the room the next moment, and released Captain Wentworth as well as herself., I knew how it would be., Excepting one short period of her life, she had never, since the age of fourteen, never since the loss of her dear mother, known the happiness of being listened to, or encouraged by any just appreciation or real taste., She was a clever young woman, who understood the art of pleasing--the art of pleasing, at least, at Kellynch Hall; and who had made herself so acceptable to Miss Elliot, as to have been already staying there more than once, in spite of all that Lady Russell, who thought it a friendship quite out of place, could hint of caution and reserve., It was a heartiness, and a warmth, and a sincerity which Anne delighted in the more, from the sad want of such blessings at home., Well, whenever it suits you., "No," replied Anne, "nor next week, nor next, nor next., It was almost enough to spread purification and perfume all the way., "Mary is good-natured enough in many respects," said she; "but she does sometimes provoke me excessively, by her nonsense and pride--the Elliot pride., "My dear," was Mrs Smith's reply, "there was nothing else to be done., She often told herself it was folly, before she could harden her nerves sufficiently to feel the continual discussion of the Crofts and their business no evil., You can slip in from the shrubbery at any time; and there you will find we keep our umbrellas hanging up by that door., First, as being the means of bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of; and secondly, as it cuts up a man's youth and vigour most horribly; a sailor grows old sooner than any other man., And it was not only that her feelings were still adverse to any man save one; her judgement, on a serious consideration of the possibilities of such a case was against Mr Elliot., He had not seen Louisa; and was so extremely fearful of any ill consequence to her from an interview, that he did not press for it at all; and, on the contrary, seemed to have a plan of going away for a week or ten days, till her head was stronger., But, alas! there were very different thoughts to succeed., The baronet, nevertheless, is not unlikely to marry again; he is quite fool enough., A scheme, worthy of Mrs Wallis's understanding, by all accounts; but my sensible nurse Rooke sees the absurdity of it., She could not understand his present feelings, whether he were really suffering much from disappointment or not; and till that point were settled, she could not be quite herself., "Would I!" was all her answer; but the accent was decisive enough. ", He was not only to quit his home, but to see it in the hands of others; a trial of fortitude, which stronger heads than Sir Walter's have found too much., "he has not, perhaps, a more sorrowing heart than I have., Colonel Wallis declined sitting down again, and Mr Elliot was invited by Elizabeth and Miss Carteret, in a manner not to be refused, to sit between them; and by some other removals, and a little scheming of her own, Anne was enabled to place herself much nearer the end of the bench than she had been before, much more within reach of a passer-by., Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books., There was not a baronet from A to Z whom her feelings could have so willingly acknowledged as an equal., Such a number of women and children have no right to be comfortable on board.", Did he see you last summer or autumn, `somewhere down in the west,' to use her own words, without knowing it to be you?", She would not speak to Anne with half the certainty she felt on the subject, she would venture on little more than hints of what might be hereafter, of a possible attachment on his side, of the desirableness of the alliance, supposing such attachment to be real and returned., "Oh! yes; certainly.", Louisa seemed the principal arranger of the plan; and, as she went a little way with them, down the hill, still talking to Henrietta, Mary took the opportunity of looking scornfully around her, and saying to Captain Wentworth-- "It is very unpleasant, having such connexions!, He endured too well, stood too well with every body., She could not contemplate the change as implying less., Irish, I dare say.", "No, nothing at all.", He undertakes it;" (looking towards Captain Wentworth,) "he is writing about it now.", For a few moments her imagination and her heart were bewitched., I was dreadfully alarmed yesterday, but the case is very different to-day.", I could not derive benefit from the late knowledge I had acquired of your character., Go to him, go to him," cried Anne, "for heaven's sake go to him., But happily, either Anne was improved in plumpness and looks, or Lady Russell fancied her so; and Anne, in receiving her compliments on the occasion, had the amusement of connecting them with the silent admiration of her cousin, and of hoping that she was to be blessed with a second spring of youth and beauty., He wanted to animate her curiosity again as to how and where he could have heard her formerly praised; wanted very much to be gratified by more solicitation; but the charm was broken: he found that the heat and animation of a public room was necessary to kindle his modest cousin's vanity; he found, at least, that it was not to be done now, by any of those attempts which he could hazard among the too-commanding claims of the others., Is he coming, Louisa?", His opinion of Louisa Musgrove's inferiority, an opinion which he had seemed solicitous to give, his wonder at Captain Benwick, his feelings as to a first, strong attachment; sentences begun which he could not finish, his half averted eyes and more than half expressive glance, all, all declared that he had a heart returning to her at least; that anger, resentment, avoidance, were no more; and that they were succeeded, not merely by friendship and regard, but by the tenderness of the past., and she sits so upright!, " Every one capable of thinking felt the advantage of the idea, and in a moment (it was all done in rapid moments), I speak, you know, only of such men as have hearts!" pressing his own with emotion. ", I am sure you hear nothing but good of him from Colonel Wallis; and who can know him better than Colonel Wallis?", Here it is; I would not burn it, because being even then very little satisfied with Mr Elliot, I was determined to preserve every document of former intimacy., Everybody's heart is open, you know, when they have recently escaped from severe pain, or are recovering the blessing of health, and Nurse Rooke thoroughly understands when to speak., "The last time I saw her, There is a quickness of perception in some, a nicety in the discernment of character, a natural penetration, in short, which no experience in others can equal, and Lady Russell had been less gifted in this part of understanding than her young friend., Such a heart is very little worth having; is it, Lady Russell?, He has no feeling for others., Charles Musgrove, indeed, afterwards, shewed more of inclination; "the child was going on so well, and he wished so much to be introduced to Captain Wentworth, that, perhaps, he might join them in the evening; he would not dine from home, but he might walk in for half an hour.", I wish she had accepted him., You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others., "Yes; he was not married when I knew him first.", The others joined them, and it was a group in which Anne found herself also necessarily included., But this was not all which they had to make them happy., This is a recollection which ought to make me forgive every one sooner than myself., How mortifying to feel that it was so!, She could not make a very long history, I think, of one such little article of unfounded news.", "None, I thank you, unless you will give me the pleasure of your company the little way our road lies together., "Poor dear fellow!", My account states, that your sister's friend, the lady now staying with you, whom I have heard you mention, came to Bath with Miss Elliot and Sir Walter as long ago as September (in short when they first came themselves), and has been staying there ever since; that she is a clever, insinuating, handsome woman, poor and plausible, and altogether such in situation and manner, as to give a general idea, among Sir Walter's acquaintance, of her meaning to be Lady Elliot, and as general a surprise that Miss Elliot should be apparently, blind to the danger.", Charles, being somewhat more mindful of the probabilities of the case, only nodded in reply, and walked away., "I declare, Charles, I never heard him mention Anne twice all the time I was there., After listening to this full description of Mr Elliot, Anne could not but express some surprise at Mrs Smith's having spoken of him so favourably in the beginning of their conversation. ", Wentworth; Captain Wentworth of the navy., We are all very well pleased, however, for though it is not equal to her marrying Captain Wentworth, it is infinitely better than Charles Hayter; and Mr Musgrove has written his consent, and Captain Benwick is expected to-day., The surgeon was with them almost before it had seemed possible., They had previously known embarrassments enough to try the friendship of their friends, and to prove that Mr Elliot's had better not be tried; but it was not till his death that the wretched state of his affairs was fully known., " Anne could just acknowledge within herself such a possibility of having been induced to marry him, as made her shudder at the idea of the misery which must have followed., Even Sophy could not understand it., If you value her conduct or happiness, infuse as much of your own spirit into her as you can., But I have not known him long; and he is not a man, I think, to be known intimately soon., This was agreed upon between the two friends as the only thing to be done; and Colonel Wallis was to assist in every way that he could., " It was all said very gracefully, and the cards with which she had provided herself, the "Miss Elliot at home," were laid on the table, with a courteous, comprehensive smile to all, and one smile and one card more decidedly for Captain Wentworth., cried Louisa more eagerly, and taking her sister aside, seemed to be arguing the matter warmly., I am only ready whenever you are., I assure you, He was ordered to walk to keep off the gout, and Mrs Croft seemed to go shares with him in everything, and to walk for her life to do him good., He is a brave fellow., How fast I made money in her., I had been grossly wrong, and must abide the consequences.", How I do wish I knew what you were at!, "But, could you be comfortable yourself, to be spending the whole evening away from the poor boy?", "I wish," said Henrietta, very well pleased with her companion, ", Ah!, "Well, she is to marry him., They did not like each other, and no renewal of acquaintance now could do any good; and were Lady Russell to see them together, No second attachment, the only thoroughly natural, happy, and sufficient cure, at her time of life, had been possible to the nice tone of her mind, the fastidiousness of her taste, in the small limits of the society around them., The varieties in the fitting-up of the rooms, where the common necessaries provided by the owner, in the common indifferent plight, were contrasted with some few articles of a rare species of wood, excellently worked up, and with something curious and valuable from all the distant countries Captain Harville had visited, were more than amusing to Anne; connected as it all was with his profession, the fruit of its labours, the effect of its influence on his habits, the picture of repose and domestic happiness it presented, made it to her a something more, or less, than gratification., He looked, as he spoke, to the seat which Mrs Clay had been lately occupying: a sufficient explanation of what he particularly meant; and though Anne could not believe in their having the same sort of pride, she was pleased with him for not liking Mrs Clay; and her conscience admitted that his wishing to promote her father's getting great acquaintance was more than excusable in the view of defeating her., The names which occasionally dropt of former associates, the allusions to former practices and pursuits, suggested suspicions not favourable of what he had been., She had never found it so difficult to listen to him, though nothing could exceed his solicitude and care, and though his subjects were principally such as were wont to be always interesting: praise, warm, just, and discriminating, of Lady Russell, and insinuations highly rational against Mrs Clay., I will give you my authority: his friend Colonel Wallis.", Mrs Musgrove was of a comfortable, substantial size, infinitely more fitted by nature to express good cheer and good humour, than tenderness and sentiment; and while the agitations of Anne's slender form, and pensive face, may be considered as very completely screened, Captain Wentworth should be allowed some credit for the self-command with which he attended to her large fat sighings over the destiny of a son, whom alive nobody had cared for., As soon as she could, she went after Mary, and having found, and walked back with her to their former station, by the stile, felt some comfort in their whole party being immediately afterwards collected, and once more in motion together., Her kind, compassionate visits to this old schoolfellow, sick and reduced, seemed to have quite delighted Mr Elliot., We shall have him very thankful to anybody that will bring him his wife.", "Yes, I have, presently., A degree of unexpected cordiality, however, in the welcome she received, did her good., Sir Walter has resented it., He must love somebody., And, pray, who is Charles Hayter?, All that she could tell she told most gladly, but the all was little for one who had been there, and unsatisfactory for such an enquirer as Mrs Smith, who had already heard, through the short cut of a laundress and a waiter, rather more of the general success and produce of the evening than Anne could relate, and who now asked in vain for several particulars of the company., We are not boy and girl, to be captiously irritable, misled by every moment's inadvertence, and wantonly playing with our own happiness.", But, fair or not fair, there are unbecoming conjunctions, which reason will patronize in vain-- which taste cannot tolerate--which ridicule will seize., How could I look on without agony?, Was not the very sight of the friend who sat behind you, was not the recollection of what had been, the knowledge of her influence, the indelible, immoveable impression of what persuasion had once done-- was it not all against me?", I have a great value for Benwick; and when one can but get him to talk, he has plenty to say., The evil of a marriage would be much diminished, if Elizabeth were also to marry., The visitors took their leave; and Charles, having civilly seen them off, and then made a face at them, and abused them for coming, began with-- ", The Admiralty," he continued, "entertain themselves now and then, with sending a few hundred men to sea, in a ship not fit to be employed., They were on Union Street, when a quicker step behind, a something of familiar sound, gave her two moments' preparation for the sight of Captain Wentworth., I declare I have not a comfort or an indulgence about me, even at Kellynch Hall," (with a kind bow to Anne), "beyond what I always had in most of the ships I have lived in; and they have been five altogether.", Will you promise me to mention it, when you see them again?, How, in all the peculiar disadvantages of their respective situations, would he ever learn of her real sentiments?, They might in fact, have borne down a great deal more than they met with, for there was little to distress them beyond the want of graciousness and warmth., Mrs Harville, her children, and Captain Benwick, remained with Mr Musgrove and Louisa at Uppercross., I think my father certainly ought to hear of it; do mention all about him.", He fancied that if he went with us, he should find you close by: he fancied everybody to be living in Uppercross; and when he discovered that Lady Russell lived three miles off, his heart failed him, and he had not courage to come., Once only, when she had been grieving over the last ill-judged, ill-fated walk to the Cobb, bitterly lamenting that it ever had been thought of, he burst forth, as if wholly overcome-- "Don't talk of it, don't talk of it," he cried. ", The gentlemen had their own pursuits, the ladies proceeded on their own business, and they met no more while Anne belonged to them., --Women may be as comfortable on board, as in the best house in England., There can be no doubt of its having been of the greatest service to Dr Shirley, after his illness, last spring twelve-month., I have observed it all my life., "Yes, as long as I could bear their noise; but they are so unmanageable that they do me more harm than good., Henrietta looked a little ashamed, but very well pleased;-- Charles Hayter exceedingly happy:, It was impossible but that Mrs Clay must hate the sight of Mr Elliot; and yet she could assume a most obliging, placid look, and appear quite satisfied with the curtailed license of devoting herself only half as much to Sir Walter as she would have done otherwise., The careless expression was life to Anne, who saw that Captain Wentworth was all attention, looking and listening with his whole soul; and that the last words brought his enquiring eyes from Charles to herself., In fact, Anne could never see the crape round his hat, without fearing that she was the inexcusable one, in attributing to him such imaginations; for though his marriage had not been very happy, still it had existed so many years that she could not comprehend a very rapid recovery from the awful impression of its being dissolved., Of course, he cannot be aware of the importance to me., They will be all wanting a home., "Upon my word," said she, "I should not have supposed that my opinion of any one could have admitted of such difference of conjecture, steady and matter of fact as I may call myself., "I did.", Charles, if you see Captain Harville anywhere, remember to give Miss Anne's message., Could the knowledge have been extended through her family?, Mr Wentworth was nobody, I remember; quite unconnected; nothing to do with the Strafford family., Miss Carteret was very anxious to have a general idea of what was next to be sung., Charles, in his real concern and good nature, would go home with her; there was no preventing him., Mr Shepherd was eloquent on the subject; pointing out all the circumstances of the Admiral's family, which made him peculiarly desirable as a tenant., A prize indeed would Kellynch Hall be to him; rather the greatest prize of all, let him have taken ever so many before; hey, Shepherd?", Indeed I think it quite melancholy to have such excellent people as Dr and Mrs Shirley, who have been doing good all their lives, wearing out their last days in a place like Uppercross, where, excepting our family, they seem shut out from all the world., Sir Walter spurned the idea of its being offered in any manner; forbad the slightest hint being dropped of his having such an intention; and it was only on the supposition of his being spontaneously solicited by some most unexceptionable applicant, on his own terms, and as a great favour, that he would let it at all., Twelve years had changed Anne from the blooming, silent, unformed girl of fifteen, to the elegant little woman of seven-and-twenty, with every beauty except bloom, and with manners as consciously right as they were invariably gentle; and twelve years had transformed the fine-looking, well-grown Miss Hamilton, in all the glow of health and confidence of superiority, into a poor, infirm, helpless widow, receiving the visit of her former protegee as a favour; but all that was uncomfortable in the meeting had soon passed away, and left only the interesting charm of remembering former partialities and talking over old times., She had lately lost sight even of her father and sister and Bath., Mr Shepherd hastened to assure him, that Admiral Croft was a very hale, hearty, well-looking man, a little weather-beaten, to be sure, but not much, and quite the gentleman in all his notions and behaviour; not likely to make the smallest difficulty about terms, only wanted a comfortable home, and to get into it as soon as possible; knew he must pay for his convenience; knew what rent a ready-furnished house of that consequence might fetch; should not have been surprised if Sir Walter had asked more; had inquired about the manor; would be glad of the deputation, certainly, but made no great point of it; said he sometimes took out a gun, but never killed; quite the gentleman., They had their great cousins, to be sure, to resort to for comfort; but they must long feel that to flatter and follow others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of half enjoyment., It was impossible for her to have forgotten to feel that this arrival of their common friends must be soon bringing them together again., "What a great traveller you must have been, ma'am!" said Mrs Musgrove to Mrs Croft., what was his name?, Lady Russell said not another word, willing to leave the matter to its own operation; and believing that, could Mr Elliot at that moment with propriety have spoken for himself!--she believed, in short, what Anne did not believe., He had very good spirits, which never seemed much affected by his wife's occasional lowness, bore with her unreasonableness sometimes to Anne's admiration, and upon the whole, though there was very often a little disagreement (in which she had sometimes more share than she wished, being appealed to by both parties), they might pass for a happy couple., Which of the two sisters was preferred by Captain Wentworth was as yet quite doubtful, as far as Anne's observation reached., Anne had very sincerely rejoiced in there being no means of her going., Either from the consciousness, however, that his friend had recovered, or from other consciousness, he went no farther; and Anne who, in spite of the agitated voice in which the latter part had been uttered, and in spite of all the various noises of the room, the almost ceaseless slam of the door, and ceaseless buzz of persons walking through, had distinguished every word, was struck, gratified, confused, and beginning to breathe very quick, and feel an hundred things in a moment., It was just possible that she might have been persuaded by Lady Russell!, An admiral speaks his own consequence, and, at the same time, can never make a baronet look small., It is not that I did not think of it, or desire it, as what could alone crown all my other success; but I was proud, too proud to ask again., They were not off the Cobb, before the Harvilles met them., His head is full of some books that he is reading upon your recommendation, and he wants to talk to you about them; he has found out something or other in one of them which he thinks--, "Oh! Charles,, Oh! yes., "But it rains.", Her countenance, perhaps, might express some watchfulness; but the praise of the fine mind did not appear to excite a thought in her sister., One always knows beforehand what the dinner will be, and who will be there; and it is so very uncomfortable not having a carriage of one's own., It was transient: cleared away in an instant; but Anne could imagine she read there the consciousness of having, by some complication of mutual trick, or some overbearing authority of his, been obliged to attend (perhaps for half an hour) to his lectures and restrictions on her designs on Sir Walter., Mrs Musgrove interposed., There was so much of friendliness, and of flattery, and of everything most bewitching in his reception there; the old were so hospitable, the young so agreeable, that he could not but resolve to remain where he was, and take all the charms and perfections of Edward's wife upon credit a little longer., But I should like to know why, at that time of his life, he should slight my father's acquaintance as he did., She thought of her father, of Lady Russell., As yet, you have seen nothing of Bath., "If I thought it would not tempt her to go out in sharp winds, and grow coarse, I would send her a new hat and pelisse., Anne, seeing her friend to be earnestly bent on it, did as she was desired., He was invited again to Camden Place the very evening of his return; but from Thursday to Saturday evening his absence was certain., Certainly not a great match for Louisa Musgrove, but a million times better than marrying among the Hayters.", Her usefulness to little Charles would always give some sweetness to the memory of her two months' visit there, but he was gaining strength apace, and she had nothing else to stay for., Was this like wishing to avoid her?, Anne, Anne," cried Charles, "What is to be done next?, It was a great object to her to escape all enquiry or eclat; but it was her intention to be as decidedly cool to him as might be compatible with their relationship; and to retrace, as quietly as she could, the few steps of unnecessary intimacy she had been gradually led along., Lady Dalrymple had acquired the name of "a charming woman," because she had a smile and a civil answer for everybody., In re-settling themselves there were now many changes, the result of which was favourable for her., Yes, yes we will have a snug walk together, and I have something to tell you as we go along., Pray say so, with my compliments., Anne had always felt that she would pretend what was proper on her arrival, but the complaisance of the others was unlooked for., Their children had more modern minds and manners., Charles Hayter had been at Lyme oftener than suited her; and when they dined with the Harvilles there had been only a maid-servant to wait, and at first Mrs Harville had always given Mrs Musgrove precedence; but then, she had received so very handsome an apology from her on finding out whose daughter she was, and there had been so much going on every day, there had been so many walks between their lodgings and the Harvilles, and she had got books from the library, and changed them so often, that the balance had certainly been much in favour of Lyme., Her eye half met Captain Wentworth's, a bow, a curtsey passed; she heard his voice; he talked to Mary, said all that was right, said something to the Miss Musgroves, enough to mark an easy footing; the room seemed full, full of persons and voices, but a few minutes ended it., Mrs Musgrove thinks all her servants so steady, that it would be high treason to call it in question; but I am sure, without exaggeration, that her upper house-maid and laundry-maid, instead of being in their business, are gadding about the village, all day long., She watched, observed, reflected, and finally determined that this was not a case of fortitude or of resignation only., She had received ideas which disposed her to be courteous and kind to all, and to pity every one, as being less happy than herself., His father very much wished him to meet Captain Wentworth, and there being no sufficient reason against it, he ought to go; and it ended in his making a bold, public declaration, when he came in from shooting, of his meaning to dress directly, and dine at the other house., But the chair would never do., It was a merry, joyous party, and no one seemed in higher spirits than Captain Wentworth., A chaise was sent for from Crewkherne, and Charles conveyed back a far more useful person in the old nursery-maid of the family, one who having brought up all the children, and seen the very last, the lingering and long-petted Master Harry, sent to school after his brothers, was now living in her deserted nursery to mend stockings and dress all the blains and bruises she could get near her, and who, consequently, was only too happy in being allowed to go and help nurse dear Miss Louisa., Anne saw them wherever she went., Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman, sensible and amiable; whose judgement and conduct, if they might be pardoned the youthful infatuation which made her Lady Elliot, had never required indulgence afterwards.--, I only heard of him; but there was a something in his conduct then, with regard to my father and sister, and afterwards in the circumstances of his marriage, which I never could quite reconcile with present times., We lived for enjoyment., "Happy for her, to have such a mind as yours at hand!, "They would look around them, no doubt, and bless their good fortune," said Mrs Clay, for Mrs Clay, Mr Elliot is a man without heart or conscience; a designing, wary, cold-blooded being, who thinks only of himself; whom for his own interest or ease, would be guilty of any cruelty, or any treachery, that could be perpetrated without risk of his general character., A man does not recover from such a devotion of the heart to such a woman., Her happiness was from within., "Old Lady Mary Maclean?, He knows where a surgeon is to be found., Lady Russell, convinced that Anne would not be allowed to be of any use, or any importance, in the choice of the house which they were going to secure, was very unwilling to have her hurried away so soon, and wanted to make it possible for her to stay behind till she might convey her to Bath herself after Christmas; but having engagements of her own which must take her from Kellynch for several weeks, she was unable to give the full invitation she wished, and Anne though dreading the possible heats of September in all the white glare of Bath, and grieving to forego all the influence so sweet and so sad of the autumnal months in the country, did not think that, everything considered, she wished to remain., He had, very soon after their engagement ceased, got employ: and all that he had told her would follow, had taken place., But soon afterwards, rising and pacing the room, he observed sarcastically-- "There are few among the gentlemen of the navy, I imagine, who would not be surprised to find themselves in a house of this description.", Anne had never seen her father and sister before in contact with nobility, and she must acknowledge herself disappointed., They were gone, she hoped, to be happy, however oddly constructed such happiness might seem; as for herself, she was left with as many sensations of comfort, as were, perhaps, ever likely to be hers., "Do you think so?, But to be sure, in general they are so spoilt!, He was gone; he had disappeared, she felt a moment's regret., But it shows you the man., Neither Lady Russell nor Mr Elliot could admire the letter; but it did all that was wanted, in bringing three lines of scrawl from the Dowager Viscountess., She was ashamed of herself, quite ashamed of being so nervous, so overcome by such a trifle; but so it was, and it required a long application of solitude and reflection to recover her., Mary was in excellent spirits, enjoying the gaiety and the change, and so well satisfied with the journey in her mother-in-law's carriage with four horses, and with her own complete independence of Camden Place, that she was exactly in a temper to admire everything as she ought, and enter most readily into all the superiorities of the house, as they were detailed to her., In each letter he had spoken well of his captain; but yet, so little were they in the habit of attending to such matters, so unobservant and incurious were they as to the names of men or ships, that it had made scarcely any impression at the time; and that Mrs Musgrove should have been suddenly struck, this very day, with a recollection of the name of Wentworth, as connected with her son, seemed one of those extraordinary bursts of mind which do sometimes occur., He could meet even Lady Russell in a discussion of her merits; and Anne could not be given to understand so much by her friend, could not know herself to be so highly rated by a sensible man, without many of those agreeable sensations which her friend meant to create., It was no insignificant barrier, indeed., how troublesome they are sometimes., He began by speaking of the concert gravely, more like the Captain Wentworth of Uppercross; owned himself disappointed, had expected singing; and in short, must confess that he should not be sorry when it was over., Anne herself would have found the mortifications of it more than she foresaw, and to Sir Walter's feelings they must have been dreadful., I am a little acquainted with Captain Benwick.", "Then I take it for granted," observed Sir Walter, "that his face is about as orange as the cuffs and capes of my livery.", I know he was invited and encouraged, and I know he did not choose to go., He had given her some hints of it the last spring in town; he had gone so far even as to say, "Can we retrench?, The young people were all wild to see Lyme., "Yes; you see his papa can, and why should not I?, He could refer Sir Walter to all who knew him; and certainly, the pains he had been taking on this, the first opportunity of reconciliation, to be restored to the footing of a relation and heir-presumptive, was a strong proof of his opinions on the subject., For an old built sloop, you would not see her equal., She has abilities, however, as well as affections; and it is now a doubtful point whether his cunning, or hers, may finally carry the day; whether, after preventing her from being the wife of Sir Walter, he may not be wheedled and caressed at last into making her the wife of Sir William., Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands., Will you not sit down?, I will not abuse him., `Sixty,' said I, `or perhaps sixty-two.', oh Lord!, One day last spring, in town, I was in company with two men, striking instances of what I am talking of; Lord St Ives, whose father we all know to have been a country curate, without bread to eat;, " Anne did not receive the perfect conviction which the Admiral meant to convey, but it would have been useless to press the enquiry farther., Now, this must be very bad for you," said he, suddenly rousing from a little reverie, "to be coming and finding us here., Sir Walter was not very wise; but still he had experience enough of the world to feel, that a more unobjectionable tenant, in all essentials, than Admiral Croft bid fair to be, could hardly offer., cried Mary, her eyes brightening., Captain Benwick had some time ago been first lieutenant of the Laconia; and the account which Captain Wentworth had given of him, on his return from Lyme before, his warm praise of him as an excellent young man and an officer, whom he had always valued highly, which must have stamped him well in the esteem of every listener, had been followed by a little history of his private life, which rendered him perfectly interesting in the eyes of all the ladies., Modest Sir Walter!, His present attentions to your family are very sincere: quite from the heart., His bright proud eye spoke the conviction that he was nice; and Anne Elliot was not out of his thoughts, when he more seriously described the woman he should wish to meet with. ", She would not, upon any account, mention her having met with him the second time; luckily Mary did not much attend to their having passed close by him in their earlier walk, but she would have felt quite ill-used by Anne's having actually run against him in the passage, and received his very polite excuses, while she had never been near him at all; no, that cousinly little interview must remain a perfect secret., But," continued Anne, presently, "though there is no truth in my having this claim on Mr Elliot, No, no, some time or other, perhaps, but not now., To me, she was in the place of a parent., "A letter from Uppercross Cottage, Sir.", I wonder whereabouts they will upset to-day., She left it to himself to recollect, that Mrs Smith was not the only widow in Bath between thirty and forty, with little to live on, and no surname of dignity., Anne had the whole history of all that such an evening could supply from Lady Russell., I have not seen him since seven o'clock., Anne listened, but without quite understanding it., He and his wife had taken their intended drive, and were returning home., Too good, too excellent creature!, I have always understood they were not a happy couple., Presently, struck by a sudden thought, Charles said-- "Captain Wentworth, which way are you going?, Only to Gay Street, or farther up the town?, After the waste of a few minutes in saying the proper nothings, she began to give the invitation which was to comprise all the remaining dues of the Musgroves. ", , I imagine to be, in himself, a sensible, careful, discerning sort of character; but Colonel Wallis has a very pretty silly wife, to whom he tells things which he had better not, and he repeats it all to her., They will be delighted to come to-morrow evening., I am come on to give you notice, that papa and mamma are out of spirits this evening, especially mamma; she is thinking so much of poor Richard!, He staid an hour with them., yes, perhaps, it had been Mr Elliot., He saw you then at Lyme, and liked you so well as to be exceedingly pleased to meet with you again in Camden Place, as Miss Anne Elliot, and from that moment, I have no doubt, had a double motive in his visits there., She had before conjectured him to be a stranger like themselves, and determined that a well-looking groom, who was strolling about near the two inns as they came back, should be his servant., whispered Mary very audibly., It suited Mary best to think Henrietta the one preferred on the very account of Charles Hayter, whose pretensions she wished to see put an end to., He would be as little incumbrance as possible to Captain and Mrs Harville; but as to leaving his sister in such a state, he neither ought, nor would., The morning hours of the Cottage were always later than those of the other house, and on the morrow the difference was so great that Mary and Anne were not more than beginning breakfast when Charles came in to say that they were just setting off, that he was come for his dogs, that his sisters were following with Captain Wentworth; his sisters meaning to visit Mary and the child, and Captain Wentworth proposing also to wait on her for a few minutes if not inconvenient; and though Charles had answered for the child's being in no such state as could make it inconvenient, Captain Wentworth would not be satisfied without his running on to give notice., On quitting the Cobb, they all went in-doors with their new friends, and found rooms so small as none but those who invite from the heart could think capable of accommodating so many., The rain was a mere trifle, and Anne was most sincere in preferring a walk with Mr Elliot., She considered it as an act of indispensable duty to clear away the claims of creditors with all the expedition which the most comprehensive retrenchments could secure, and saw no dignity in anything short of it., Anne sometimes fancied she discerned him at a distance, but he never came., "But was not she a very low woman?" ", However it might end, he was without any question their pleasantest acquaintance in Bath: she saw nobody equal to him; and it was a great indulgence now and then to talk to him about Lyme, which he seemed to have as lively a wish to see again, and to see more of, as herself., She occupied her mind as much as possible in such like musings and quotations; but it was not possible, that when within reach of Captain Wentworth's conversation with either of the Miss Musgroves, she should not try to hear it; yet she caught little very remarkable., you are acquainted with him?", Captain Wentworth, after being unseen and unheard of at Uppercross for two whole days, appeared again among them to justify himself by a relation of what had kept him away., Well, this Miss Louisa, we all thought, you know, was to marry Frederick., I am glad I was not a week later then.", But poor Mrs Clay who, with all her merits, can never have been reckoned tolerably pretty, I really think poor Mrs Clay may be staying here in perfect safety., All the little variations of the last week were gone through; and of yesterday and today there could scarcely be an end., It was the same, the very same man, with no difference but of dress., "And--were you much acquainted?" "Intimately." ", and the two new beauties, with the tall Irish officer, who is talked of for one of them.", No, I thank you,, But why be acquainted with us now?", The charm of Kellynch and of "Lady Elliot" all faded away., I grant you, that any of them but Charles would be a very shocking match for Henrietta, and indeed it could not be; he is the only one that could be possible; but he is a very good-natured, good sort of a fellow; and whenever Winthrop comes into his hands, he will make a different sort of place of it, and live in a very different sort of way; and with that property, he will never be a contemptible man--good, freehold property., He had passed out of the room without a look!, That Lady Russell, of steady age and character, and extremely well provided for, should have no thought of a second marriage, needs no apology to the public, which is rather apt to be unreasonably discontented when a woman does marry again, than when she does not; but Sir Walter's continuing in singleness requires explanation., "More air than one often sees in Bath., And it is not merely in its follies, that they are well read; for they see it occasionally under every circumstance that can be most interesting or affecting., As for herself, she might always command a home with Lady Russell., He was devoted to Henrietta; always turning towards her; and when he spoke at all, always with the view of supporting her hopes and raising her spirits., With the Musgroves, there was the happy chat of perfect ease; with Captain Harville, the kind-hearted intercourse of brother and sister; with Lady Russell, attempts at conversation, which a delicious consciousness cut short; with Admiral and Mrs Croft, everything of peculiar cordiality and fervent interest, which the same consciousness sought to conceal; and with Captain Wentworth, some moments of communications continually occurring, and always the hope of more, and always the knowledge of his being there., A short absence from home had left his fair one unguarded by his attentions at this critical period, and when he came back he had the pain of finding very altered manners, and of seeing Captain Wentworth., "My dear Mrs Smith, Mr Elliot's wife has not been dead much above half a year.]