CHAPTER XIV.

shouldhavethoughtwewerelivelyenoughattheCottageforsuchaheart-brokenmanasCaptainBenwick.” Charleslaughedagainandsaid,“NowMary,youknowverywellhowitreallywas.Itwasallyourdoing,”(turningtoAnne.)“Hefanciedthatifhewentwithus,heshouldfindyoucloseby:hefanciedeverybodytobelivinginUppercrossandwhenhediscoveredthatLadyRusselllivedthreemilesoff,hisheartfailedhim,andhehadnotcouragetocome.Thatisthefact,uponmyhonour.Maryknowsitis.” ButMarydidnotgiveintoitverygraciously,whetherfromnotconsideringCaptainBenwickentitledbybirthandsituationtobeinlovewithanElliot,orfromnotwantingtobelieveAnneagreaterattractiontoUppercrossthanherself,mustbelefttobeguessed.Anne’sgood-will,however,wasnottobelessenedbywhatsheheard.Sheboldlyacknowledgedherselfflattered,andcontinuedherenquiries. “Oh!hetalksofyou,”criedCharles,“insuchterms—”Maryinterruptedhim.“Ideclare,Charles,IneverheardhimmentionAnnetwiceallthetimeIwasthere.Ideclare,Anne,henevertalksofyouatall.” “No,”admittedCharles,“Idonotknowthatheeverdoes,inageneralwaybuthowever,itisaveryclearthingthatheadmiresyouexceedingly.Hisheadisfullofsomebooksthatheisreadinguponyourrecommendation,andhewantstotalktoyouaboutthemhehasfoundoutsomethingorotherinoneofthemwhichhethinks—oh!Icannotpretendtorememberit,butitwassomethingveryfine—IoverheardhimtellingHenriettaallaboutitandthen‘MissElliot’wasspokenofinthehighestterms!NowMary,Ideclareitwasso,Ihearditmyself,andyouwereintheotherroom.‘Elegance,sweetness,beauty.’Oh!therewasnoendofMissElliot’scharms.” “AndIamsure,”criedMary,warmly,“itwasaverylittletohiscredit,ifhedid.MissHarvilleonlydiedlastJune.Suchaheartisverylittleworthhavingisit,LadyRussell?Iamsureyouwillagreewithme.” “ImustseeCaptainBenwickbeforeIdecide,”saidLadyRussell,smiling. “Andthatyouareverylikelytodoverysoon,Icantellyou,ma’am,”saidCharles.“Thoughhehadnotnervesforcomingawaywithus,andsettingoffagainafterwardstopayaformalvisithere,hewillmakehiswayovertoKellynchonedaybyhimself,youmaydependonit.Itoldhimthedistanceandtheroad,andItoldhimofthechurch’sbeingsoverywellworthseeingforashehasatasteforthosesortofthings,Ithoughtthatwouldbeagoodexcuse,andhelistenedwithallhisunderstandingandsoulandIamsurefromhismannerthatyouwillhavehimcallingheresoon.So,Igiveyounotice,LadyRussell.” “AnyacquaintanceofAnne’swillalwaysbewelcometome,”wasLadyRussell’s