CHAPTER X.

invitationwasgeneral,andgenerallydeclined.TheMissMusgroveswerenotatalltired,andMarywaseitheroffended,bynotbeingaskedbeforeanyoftheothers,orwhatLouisacalledtheElliotpridecouldnotenduretomakeathirdinaonehorsechaise. Thewalkingpartyhadcrossedthelane,andweresurmountinganoppositestile,andtheAdmiralwasputtinghishorseinmotionagain,whenCaptainWentworthclearedthehedgeinamomenttosaysomethingtohissister.Thesomethingmightbeguessedbyitseffects. “MissElliot,Iamsureyouaretired,”criedMrsCroft.“Doletushavethepleasureoftakingyouhome.Hereisexcellentroomforthree,Iassureyou.Ifwewerealllikeyou,Ibelievewemightsitfour.Youmust,indeed,youmust.” Annewasstillinthelaneandthoughinstinctivelybeginningtodecline,shewasnotallowedtoproceed.TheAdmiral’skindurgencycameinsupportofhiswife’stheywouldnotberefusedtheycompressedthemselvesintothesmallestpossiblespacetoleaveheracorner,andCaptainWentworth,withoutsayingaword,turnedtoher,andquietlyobligedhertobeassistedintothecarriage. Yeshehaddoneit.Shewasinthecarriage,andfeltthathehadplacedherthere,thathiswillandhishandshaddoneit,thatsheowedittohisperceptionofherfatigue,andhisresolutiontogiveherrest.Shewasverymuchaffectedbytheviewofhisdispositiontowardsher,whichallthesethingsmadeapparent.Thislittlecircumstanceseemedthecompletionofallthathadgonebefore.Sheunderstoodhim.Hecouldnotforgiveher,buthecouldnotbeunfeeling.Thoughcondemningherforthepast,andconsideringitwithhighandunjustresentment,thoughperfectlycarelessofher,andthoughbecomingattachedtoanother,stillhecouldnotseehersuffer,withoutthedesireofgivingherrelief.Itwasaremainderofformersentimentitwasanimpulseofpure,thoughunacknowledgedfriendshipitwasaproofofhisownwarmandamiableheart,whichshecouldnotcontemplatewithoutemotionssocompoundedofpleasureandpain,thatsheknewnotwhichprevailed. Heranswerstothekindnessandtheremarksofhercompanionswereatfirstunconsciouslygiven.Theyhadtravelledhalftheirwayalongtheroughlane,beforeshewasquiteawaketowhattheysaid.Shethenfoundthemtalkingof“Frederick.” “Hecertainlymeanstohaveoneorotherofthosetwogirls,Sophy,”saidtheAdmiral“butthereisnosayingwhich.Hehasbeenrunningafterthem,too,longenough,onewouldthink,tomakeuphismind.Ay,thiscomesofthepeace.Ifitwerewarnow,hewouldhavesettleditlongago.Wesailors,MissElliot,cannotaffordtomakelongcourtshipsintimeofwar.Howmanydayswasit,mydear,betweenthefirsttimeofmyseeingyouandoursittingdowntogetherinourlodgingsatNorthYarmouth?” “Wehadbetternottalkaboutit,mydear,”repliedMrsCroft,pleasantly“forifMissElliotweretohearhowsoonwecametoanunderstanding,shewouldneverbepersuadedthatwecouldbehappytogether.Ihadknownyoubycharacter,however,longbefore.” “Well,andIhadheardofyouasaveryprettygirl,andwhatwerewetowaitforbesides?Idonotlikehavingsuchthingssolonginhand.IwishFrederickwouldspreadalittlemorecanvass,andbringushomeoneoftheseyoungladiestoKellynch.Thentherewouldalwaysbecompanyforthem.AndveryniceyoungladiestheybothareIhardlyknowonefromtheother.” “Verygoodhumoured,unaffectedgirls,indeed,”saidMrsCroft,inatoneofcalmerpraise,suchasmadeAnnesuspectthatherkeenerpowersmightnotconsidereitherofthemasquiteworthyofherbrother“andaveryrespectablefamily.Onecouldnotbeconnectedwithbetterpeople.MydearAdmiral,thatpost!weshallcertainlytakethatpost.” Butbycoollygivingthereinsabetterdirectionherselftheyhappilypassedthedangerandbyonceafterwardsjudiciouslyputtingoutherhandtheyneitherfellintoarut,norranfoulofadung-cartandAnne,withsomeamusementattheirstyleofdriving,whichsheimaginednobadrepresentationofthegeneralguidanceoftheiraffairs,foundherselfsafelydepositedbythemattheCottage.