CHAPTER XX.

wasinneedofalittleintervalforrecollection.” UponLadyRussell’sappearancesoonafterwards,thewholepartywascollected,andallthatremainedwastomarshalthemselves,andproceedintotheConcertRoomandbeofalltheconsequenceintheirpower,drawasmanyeyes,exciteasmanywhispers,anddisturbasmanypeopleastheycould. Very,veryhappywerebothElizabethandAnneElliotastheywalkedin.ElizabetharminarmwithMissCarteret,andlookingonthebroadbackofthedowagerViscountessDalrymplebeforeher,hadnothingtowishforwhichdidnotseemwithinherreachandAnne—butitwouldbeaninsulttothenatureofAnne’sfelicity,todrawanycomparisonbetweenitandhersister’stheoriginofoneallselfishvanity,oftheotherallgenerousattachment. Annesawnothing,thoughtnothingofthebrilliancyoftheroom.Herhappinesswasfromwithin.Hereyeswerebrightandhercheeksglowedbutsheknewnothingaboutit.Shewasthinkingonlyofthelasthalfhour,andastheypassedtotheirseats,hermindtookahastyrangeoverit.Hischoiceofsubjects,hisexpressions,andstillmorehismannerandlook,hadbeensuchasshecouldseeinonlyonelight.HisopinionofLouisaMusgrove’sinferiority,anopinionwhichhehadseemedsolicitoustogive,hiswonderatCaptainBenwick,hisfeelingsastoafirst,strongattachmentsentencesbegunwhichhecouldnotfinish,hishalfavertedeyesandmorethanhalfexpressiveglance,all,alldeclaredthathehadaheartreturningtoheratleastthatanger,resentment,avoidance,werenomoreandthattheyweresucceeded,notmerelybyfriendshipandregard,butbythetendernessofthepast.Yes,someshareofthetendernessofthepast.Shecouldnotcontemplatethechangeasimplyingless.Hemustloveher. Thesewerethoughts,withtheirattendantvisions,whichoccupiedandflurriedhertoomuchtoleaveheranypowerofobservationandshepassedalongtheroomwithouthavingaglimpseofhim,withouteventryingtodiscernhim.Whentheirplacesweredeterminedon,andtheywereallproperlyarranged,shelookedroundtoseeifheshouldhappentobeinthesamepartoftheroom,buthewasnothereyecouldnotreachhimandtheconcertbeingjustopening,shemustconsentforatimetobehappyinahumblerway. Thepartywasdividedanddisposedofontwocontiguousbenches:Annewasamongthoseontheforemost,andMrElliothadman?uvredsowell,withtheassistanceofhisfriendColonelWallis,astohaveaseatbyher.MissElliot,surroundedbyhercousins,andtheprincipalobjectofColonelWallis’sgallantry,wasquitecontented. Anne’smindwasinamostfavourablestatefortheentertainmentoftheeveningitwasjustoccupationenough:shehadfeelingsforthetender,spiritsforthegay,attentionforthescientific,andpatienceforthewearisomeandhadneverlikedaconcertbetter,atleastduringthefirstact.Towardsthecloseofit,intheintervalsucceedinganItaliansong,sheexplainedthewordsofthesongtoMrElliot.Theyhadaconcertbillbetweenthem. “This,”saidshe,“isnearlythesense,orratherthemeaningofthewords,forcertainlythesenseofanItalianlove-songmustnotbetalkedof,butitisasnearlythemeaningasIcangiveforIdonotpretendtounderstandthelanguage.IamaverypoorItalianscholar.” “Yes,yes,Iseeyouare.Iseeyouknownothingofthematter.Youhaveonlyknowledgeenoughofthelanguagetotranslateatsighttheseinverted,transposed,curtailedItalianlines,intoclear,comprehensible,elegantEnglish.Youneednotsayanythingmoreofyourignorance.Hereiscompleteproof.” “IwillnotopposesuchkindpolitenessbutIshouldbesorrytobeexaminedbyarealproficient.” “IhavenothadthepleasureofvisitinginCamdenPlacesolong,”repliedh