CHAPTER XIX.

olistentohim,thoughnothingcouldexceedhissolicitudeandcare,andthoughhissubjectswereprincipallysuchaswerewonttobealwaysinteresting:praise,warm,just,anddiscriminating,ofLadyRussell,andinsinuationshighlyrationalagainstMrsClay.ButjustnowshecouldthinkonlyofCaptainWentworth.Shecouldnotunderstandhispresentfeelings,whetherhewerereallysufferingmuchfromdisappointmentornotandtillthatpointweresettled,shecouldnotbequiteherself. Shehopedtobewiseandreasonableintimebutalas!alas!shemustconfesstoherselfthatshewasnotwiseyet. Anothercircumstanceveryessentialforhertoknow,washowlonghemeanttobeinBathhehadnotmentionedit,orshecouldnotrecollectit.Hemightbeonlypassingthrough.Butitwasmoreprobablethatheshouldbecometostay.Inthatcase,soliableaseverybodywastomeeteverybodyinBath,LadyRussellwouldinalllikelihoodseehimsomewhere.Wouldsherecollecthim?Howwoulditallbe? ShehadalreadybeenobligedtotellLadyRussellthatLouisaMusgrovewastomarryCaptainBenwick.IthadcosthersomethingtoencounterLadyRussell’ssurpriseandnow,ifshewerebyanychancetobethrownintocompanywithCaptainWentworth,herimperfectknowledgeofthemattermightaddanothershadeofprejudiceagainsthim. ThefollowingmorningAnnewasoutwithherfriend,andforthefirsthour,inanincessantandfearfulsortofwatchforhiminvainbutatlast,inreturningdownPulteneyStreet,shedistinguishedhimontherighthandpavementatsuchadistanceastohavehiminviewthegreaterpartofthestreet.Thereweremanyothermenabouthim,manygroupswalkingthesameway,buttherewasnomistakinghim.ShelookedinstinctivelyatLadyRussellbutnotfromanymadideaofherrecognisinghimsosoonasshedidherself.No,itwasnottobesupposedthatLadyRussellwouldperceivehimtilltheywerenearlyopposite.Shelookedatherhowever,fromtimetotime,anxiouslyandwhenthemomentapproachedwhichmustpointhimout,thoughnotdaringtolookagain(forherowncountenancesheknewwasunfittobeseen),shewasyetperfectlyconsciousofLadyRussell’seyesbeingturnedexactlyinthedirectionforhim—ofherbeing,inshort,intentlyobservinghim.ShecouldthoroughlycomprehendthesortoffascinationhemustpossessoverLadyRussell’smind,thedifficultyitmustbeforhertowithdrawhereyes,theastonishmentshemustbefeelingthateightornineyearsshouldhavepassedoverhim,andinforeignclimesandinactiveservicetoo,withoutrobbinghimofonepe