CHAPTER XV.

heplainwasoutofallproportion.Hehadfrequentlyobserved,ashewalked,thatonehandsomefacewouldbefollowedbythirty,orfive-and-thirtyfrightsandonce,ashehadstoodinashoponBondStreet,hehadcountedeighty-sevenwomengoby,oneafteranother,withouttherebeingatolerablefaceamongthem.Ithadbeenafrostymorning,tobesure,asharpfrost,whichhardlyonewomaninathousandcouldstandthetestof.Butstill,therecertainlywereadreadfulmultitudeofuglywomeninBathandasforthemen!theywereinfinitelyworse.Suchscarecrowsasthestreetswerefullof!Itwasevidenthowlittlethewomenwereusedtothesightofanythingtolerable,bytheeffectwhichamanofdecentappearanceproduced.Hehadneverwalkedanywherearm-in-armwithColonelWallis(whowasafinemilitaryfigure,thoughsandy-haired)withoutobservingthateverywoman’seyewasuponhimeverywoman’seyewassuretobeuponColonelWallis.”ModestSirWalter!Hewasnotallowedtoescape,however.HisdaughterandMrsClayunitedinhintingthatColonelWallis’scompanionmighthaveasgoodafigureasColonelWallis,andcertainlywasnotsandy-haired. “HowisMarylooking?”saidSirWalter,intheheightofhisgoodhumour.“ThelasttimeIsawhershehadarednose,butIhopethatmaynothappeneveryday.” “Oh!no,thatmusthavebeenquiteaccidental.IngeneralshehasbeeninverygoodhealthandverygoodlookssinceMichaelmas.” “IfIthoughtitwouldnottempthertogooutinsharpwinds,andgrowcoarse,Iwouldsendheranewhatandpelisse.” Annewasconsideringwhethersheshouldventuretosuggestthatagown,oracap,wouldnotbeliabletoanysuchmisuse,whenaknockatthedoorsuspendedeverything.“Aknockatthedoor!andsolate!Itwasteno’clock.CoulditbeMrElliot?TheyknewhewastodineinLansdownCrescent.Itwaspossiblethathemightstopinhiswayhometoaskthemhowtheydid.Theycouldthinkofnooneelse.MrsClaydecidedlythoughtitMrElliot’sknock.”MrsClaywasright.Withallthestatewhichabutlerandfoot-boycouldgive,MrElliotwasusheredintotheroom. Itwasthesame,theverysameman,withnodifferencebutofdress.Annedrewalittleback,whiletheothersreceivedhiscompliments,andhersisterhisapologiesforcallingatsounusualanhour,but“hecouldnotbesonearwithoutwishingtoknowthatneithershenorherfriendhadtakencoldthedaybefore,”&c.&cwhichwasallaspolitelydone,andaspolitelytaken,aspossible,butherpartmustfollowthen.SirWaltertalkedofhisyoungestdaughter“MrElliotmustgivehimleavetopresenthimtohisyoungestdaughter”(therewasnooccasionforrememberingMary)andAnne,smilingandblushing,verybecominglyshewedtoMrElliottheprettyfeatureswhichhehadbynomeansforgotten,andinstantlysaw,withamusementathislittlestartofsurprise,thathehadnotbeenatallawareofwhoshewas.Helookedcompletelyastonished,butnotmoreastonishedthanpleasedhiseyesbrightened!andwiththemostperfectalacrityhewelcomedtherel