CHAPTER XIX.

rsonalgrace! Atlast,LadyRusselldrewbackherhead.“Now,howwouldshespeakofhim?” “Youwillwonder,”saidshe,“whathasbeenfixingmyeyesolongbutIwaslookingaftersomewindow-curtains,whichLadyAliciaandMrsFranklandweretellingmeoflastnight.Theydescribedthedrawing-roomwindow-curtainsofoneofthehousesonthissideoftheway,andthispartofthestreet,asbeingthehandsomestandbesthungofanyinBath,butcouldnotrecollecttheexactnumber,andIhavebeentryingtofindoutwhichitcouldbebutIconfessIcanseenocurtainshereaboutsthatanswertheirdescription.” Annesighedandblushedandsmiled,inpityanddisdain,eitheratherfriendorherself.Thepartwhichprovokedhermost,wasthatinallthiswasteofforesightandcaution,sheshouldhavelosttherightmomentforseeingwhetherhesawthem. Adayortwopassedwithoutproducinganything.Thetheatreortherooms,wherehewasmostlikelytobe,werenotfashionableenoughfortheElliots,whoseeveningamusementsweresolelyintheelegantstupidityofprivateparties,inwhichtheyweregettingmoreandmoreengagedandAnne,weariedofsuchastateofstagnation,sickofknowingnothing,andfancyingherselfstrongerbecauseherstrengthwasnottried,wasquiteimpatientfortheconcertevening.ItwasaconcertforthebenefitofapersonpatronisedbyLadyDalrymple.Ofcoursetheymustattend.Itwasreallyexpectedtobeagoodone,andCaptainWentworthwasveryfondofmusic.Ifshecouldonlyhaveafewminutesconversationwithhimagain,shefanciedsheshouldbesatisfiedandastothepowerofaddressinghim,shefeltallovercourageiftheopportunityoccurred.Elizabethhadturnedfromhim,LadyRusselloverlookedhimhernerveswerestrengthenedbythesecircumstancesshefeltthatsheowedhimattention. ShehadoncepartlypromisedMrsSmithtospendtheeveningwithherbutinashorthurriedcallsheexcusedherselfandputitoff,withthemoredecidedpromiseofalongervisitonthemorrow.MrsSmithgaveamostgood-humouredacquiescence. “Byallmeans,”saidshe“onlytellmeallaboutit,whenyoudocome.Whoisyourparty?” Annenamedthemall.MrsSmithmadenoreplybutwhenshewasleavinghersaid,andwithanexpressionhalfserious,halfarch,“Well,Iheartilywishyourconcertmayansweranddonotfailmeto-morrowifyoucancomeforIbegintohaveaforebodingthatImaynothavemanymorevisitsfromyou.” Annewasstartledandconfusedbutafterstandinginamoment’ssuspense,wasobliged,andnotsorrytobeobliged,tohurryaway.