CHAPTER XIX.

eifitrained.Whywasshetosuspectherselfofanothermotive?CaptainWentworthmustbeoutofsight.Sheleftherseat,shewouldgoonehalfofhershouldnotbealwayssomuchwiserthantheotherhalf,oralwayssuspectingtheotherofbeingworsethanitwas.Shewouldseeifitrained.Shewassentback,however,inamomentbytheentranceofCaptainWentworthhimself,amongapartyofgentlemenandladies,evidentlyhisacquaintance,andwhomhemusthavejoinedalittlebelowMilsomStreet.Hewasmoreobviouslystruckandconfusedbythesightofherthanshehadeverobservedbeforehelookedquitered.Forthefirsttime,sincetheirrenewedacquaintance,shefeltthatshewasbetrayingtheleastsensibilityofthetwo.Shehadtheadvantageofhiminthepreparationofthelastfewmoments.Alltheoverpowering,blinding,bewildering,firsteffectsofstrongsurprisewereoverwithher.Still,however,shehadenoughtofeel!Itwasagitation,pain,pleasure,asomethingbetweendelightandmisery. Hespoketoher,andthenturnedaway.Thecharacterofhismannerwasembarrassment.Shecouldnothavecallediteithercoldorfriendly,oranythingsocertainlyasembarrassed. Afterashortinterval,however,hecametowardsher,andspokeagain.Mutualenquiriesoncommonsubjectspassed:neitherofthem,probably,muchthewiserforwhattheyheard,andAnnecontinuingfullysensibleofhisbeinglessateasethanformerly.Theyhadbydintofbeingsoverymuchtogether,gottospeaktoeachotherwithaconsiderableportionofapparentindifferenceandcalmnessbuthecouldnotdoitnow.Timehadchangedhim,orLouisahadchangedhim.Therewasconsciousnessofsomesortorother.Helookedverywell,notasifhehadbeensufferinginhealthorspirits,andhetalkedofUppercross,oftheMusgroves,nay,evenofLouisa,andhadevenamomentarylookofhisownarchsignificanceashenamedherbutyetitwasCaptainWentworthnotcomfortable,noteasy,notabletofeignthathewas. Itdidnotsurprise,butitgrievedAnnetoobservethatElizabethwouldnotknowhim.ShesawthathesawElizabeth,thatElizabethsawhim,thattherewascompleteinternalrecognitiononeachsideshewasconvincedthathewasreadytobeacknowledgedasanacquaintance,expectingit,andshehadthepainofseeinghersisterturnawaywithunalterablecoldness. LadyDalrymple’scarriage,forwhichMissElliotwasgrowingveryimpatient,nowdrewuptheservantcameintoannounceit.Itwasbeginningtorainagain,andaltogethertherewasadelay,andabustle,andatalking,whichmustmakealltheli