CHAPTER XVII.

eBuildingsmusthavebeenrathersurprisedbytheappearanceofacarriagedrawnupnearitspavement,”observedSirWalter.“SirHenryRussell’swidow,indeed,hasnohonourstodistinguishherarms,butstillitisahandsomeequipage,andnodoubtiswellknowntoconveyaMissElliot.AwidowMrsSmithlodginginWestgateBuildings!Apoorwidowbarelyabletolive,betweenthirtyandfortyamereMrsSmith,anevery-dayMrsSmith,ofallpeopleandallnamesintheworld,tobethechosenfriendofMissAnneElliot,andtobepreferredbyhertoherownfamilyconnectionsamongthenobilityofEnglandandIreland!MrsSmith!Suchaname!” MrsClay,whohadbeenpresentwhileallthispassed,nowthoughtitadvisabletoleavetheroom,andAnnecouldhavesaidmuch,anddidlongtosayalittleindefenceofherfriend’snotverydissimilarclaimstotheirs,buthersenseofpersonalrespecttoherfatherpreventedher.Shemadenoreply.Sheleftittohimselftorecollect,thatMrsSmithwasnottheonlywidowinBathbetweenthirtyandforty,withlittletoliveon,andnosurnameofdignity. Annekeptherappointmenttheotherskepttheirs,andofcoursesheheardthenextmorningthattheyhadhadadelightfulevening.Shehadbeentheonlyoneofthesetabsent,forSirWalterandElizabethhadnotonlybeenquiteatherladyship’sservicethemselves,buthadactuallybeenhappytobeemployedbyherincollectingothers,andhadbeenatthetroubleofinvitingbothLadyRussellandMrElliotandMrElliothadmadeapointofleavingColonelWallisearly,andLadyRussellhadfresharrangedallhereveningengagementsinordertowaitonher.AnnehadthewholehistoryofallthatsuchaneveningcouldsupplyfromLadyRussell.Toher,itsgreatestinterestmustbe,inhavingbeenverymuchtalkedofbetweenherfriendandMrElliotinhavingbeenwishedfor,regretted,andatthesametimehonouredforstayingawayinsuchacause.Herkind,compassionatevisitstothisoldschoolfellow,sickandreduced,seemedtohavequitedelightedMrElliot.Hethoughtheramostextraordinaryyoungwomaninhertemper,manners,mind,amodeloffemaleexcellence.HecouldmeetevenLadyRussellinadiscussionofhermeritsandAnnecouldnotbegiventounderstandsomuchbyherfriend,couldnotknowherselftobesohighlyratedbyasensibleman,withoutmanyofthoseagreeablesensationswhichherfriendmeanttocreate. LadyRussellwasnowperfectlydecidedinheropinionofMrElliot.ShewasasmuchconvincedofhismeaningtogainAnneintimeasofhisdeservingher,andwasbeginningtocalculatethenumberofweekswhichwouldfreehimfromalltheremainingrestraintsofwidowhood,andleavehimatlibertytoexerthismostopenpowersofpleasing.ShewouldnotspeaktoAnnewithhalfthecertaintyshefeltonthesubject,shewouldventureonlittlemorethanhintsofwhatmightbehereafter,ofapossibleattachmentonhisside,ofthedesirablenessofthealliance,supposingsuchattachmenttoberealandreturned.Anneheardher,andmadenoviolentexclamationssheonlysmiled,blushed,andgentlyshookherhead. “Iamnomatch-maker,asyouwellknow,”saidLadyRussell,“beingmuchtoowellawareoftheuncertaintyofallhumaneventsandcalculations.IonlymeanthatifMrElliotshouldsometimehencepayhisaddressestoyou,andifyoushouldbedisposedtoaccepthim,Ithinktherewouldbeeverypossibilityofyourbeinghappytogether.Amostsuitableconnectioneverybodymustconsiderit,butIthinkitmightbeaveryhappyone.” “MrElliotisanexceedinglyagreeableman,andinmanyrespectsIthinkhighlyofhim,”saidAnne“butweshouldnotsuit.” LadyRussellletthispass,andonlysaidinrejoinder,“IownthattobeabletoregardyouasthefuturemistressofKellynch,thefutureLadyElliot,tolookforwardandseeyouoccupyin