CHAPTER XVIII.

ove,andthedejected,thinking,feeling,reading,CaptainBenwick,seemedeachofthemeverythingthatwouldnotsuittheother.Theirmindsmostdissimilar!Wherecouldhavebeentheattraction?Theanswersoonpresenteditself.Ithadbeeninsituation.Theyhadbeenthrowntogetherseveralweekstheyhadbeenlivinginthesamesmallfamilyparty:sinceHenrietta’scomingaway,theymusthavebeendependingalmostentirelyoneachother,andLouisa,justrecoveringfromillness,hadbeeninaninterestingstate,andCaptainBenwickwasnotinconsolable.ThatwasapointwhichAnnehadnotbeenabletoavoidsuspectingbeforeandinsteadofdrawingthesameconclusionasMary,fromthepresentcourseofevents,theyservedonlytoconfirmtheideaofhishavingfeltsomedawningoftendernesstowardherself.Shedidnotmean,however,toderivemuchmorefromittogratifyhervanity,thanMarymighthaveallowed.Shewaspersuadedthatanytolerablypleasingyoungwomanwhohadlistenedandseemedtofeelforhimwouldhavereceivedthesamecompliment.Hehadanaffectionateheart.Hemustlovesomebody. Shesawnoreasonagainsttheirbeinghappy.Louisahadfinenavalfervourtobeginwith,andtheywouldsoongrowmorealike.Hewouldgaincheerfulness,andshewouldlearntobeanenthusiastforScottandLordByronnay,thatwasprobablylearntalreadyofcoursetheyhadfalleninloveoverpoetry.TheideaofLouisaMusgroveturnedintoapersonofliterarytaste,andsentimentalreflectionwasamusing,butshehadnodoubtofitsbeingso.ThedayatLyme,thefallfromtheCobb,mightinfluenceherhealth,hernerves,hercourage,hercharactertotheendofherlife,asthoroughlyasitappearedtohaveinfluencedherfate. Theconclusionofthewholewas,thatifthewomanwhohadbeensensibleofCaptainWentworth’smeritscouldbeallowedtopreferanotherman,therewasnothingintheengagementtoexcitelastingwonderandifCaptainWentworthlostnofriendbyit,certainlynothingtoberegretted.No,itwasnotregretwhichmadeAnne’sheartbeatinspiteofherself,andbroughtthecolourintohercheekswhenshethoughtofCaptainWentworthunshackledandfree.Shehadsomefeelingswhichshewasashamedtoinvestigate.Theyweretoomuchlikejoy,senselessjoy! ShelongedtoseetheCroftsbutwhenthemeetingtookplace,itwasevidentthatnorumourofthenewshadyetreachedthem.ThevisitofceremonywaspaidandreturnedandLouisaMusgrovewasmentioned,andCaptainBenwick,too,withoutevenhalfasmile. TheCroftshadplacedthemselvesinlodgingsinGayStreet,perfectlytoSirWalter’ssatisfaction.Hewasnotatallashamedoftheacquaintance,anddid,infact,thinkandtalkagreatdealmoreabouttheAdmiral,thantheAdmiraleverthoughtortalkedabouthim. TheCroftsknewquiteasmanypeopleinBathastheywishedfor,andconsideredtheirintercoursewiththeElliotsasamerematterofform,andnotintheleastlikelytoaffordthemanypleasure.Theybroughtwiththemtheircountryhabitofbeingalmostalwaystogether.Hewasorderedtowalktokeepoffthegout,andMrsCroftseemedtogoshareswithhimineverything,andtowalkforherlifetodohimgood.Annesawthemwherevershewent.LadyRusselltookheroutinhercarriagealmosteverymorning,andsheneverfailedtothinkofthem,andneverfailedtoseethem.Knowingtheirfeelingsasshedid,itwasamostattractivepictureofhappinesstoher.Shealwayswatchedthemaslongasshecould,delightedtofancysheunderstoodwhattheymightbetalkingof,astheywalkedalonginhappyindependence,orequallydelightedtoseetheAdmiral’sheartyshakeofthehandwhenheencounteredanoldfriend,andobservetheireagernessofconversationwhenoccasionallyformingintoalittleknotofthenavy,MrsCroftlookingasintelligentandkeenasanyoftheofficersaroundher. AnnewastoomuchengagedwithLadyRusselltobeoftenwalkingherselfbutitsohappenedthatonemorning,aboutaweekortendaysaftertheCroft’sarrival,itsuitedherbesttoleaveherfriend,orherfriend’scarriage,inthelowerpartofthetown,andreturnalonetoCamdenPlace,andinwalkingupMilsomStreetshehadthegoodfortunetomeetwiththeAdmiral.Hewasstandingbyhimselfataprintshopwindow,withhishandsbehindhim,inear