CHAPTER XX.

’scountenancethatshehadseenhim. Hedidnotcomehowever.Annesometimesfanciedshediscernedhimatadistance,buthenevercame.Theanxiousintervalworeawayunproductively.Theothersreturned,theroomfilledagain,bencheswerereclaimedandrepossessed,andanotherhourofpleasureorofpenancewastobesatout,anotherhourofmusicwastogivedelightorthegapes,asrealoraffectedtasteforitprevailed.ToAnne,itchieflyworetheprospectofanhourofagitation.ShecouldnotquitthatroominpeacewithoutseeingCaptainWentworthoncemore,withouttheinterchangeofonefriendlylook. Inre-settlingthemselvestherewerenowmanychanges,theresultofwhichwasfavourableforher.ColonelWallisdeclinedsittingdownagain,andMrElliotwasinvitedbyElizabethandMissCarteret,inamannernottoberefused,tositbetweenthemandbysomeotherremovals,andalittleschemingofherown,Annewasenabledtoplaceherselfmuchnearertheendofthebenchthanshehadbeenbefore,muchmorewithinreachofapasser-by.Shecouldnotdoso,withoutcomparingherselfwithMissLarolles,theinimitableMissLarollesbutstillshedidit,andnotwithmuchhappiereffectthoughbywhatseemedprosperityintheshapeofanearlyabdicationinhernextneighbours,shefoundherselfattheveryendofthebenchbeforetheconcertclosed. Suchwashersituation,withavacantspaceathand,whenCaptainWentworthwasagaininsight.Shesawhimnotfaroff.Hesawhertooyethelookedgrave,andseemedirresolute,andonlybyveryslowdegreescameatlastnearenoughtospeaktoher.Shefeltthatsomethingmustbethematter.Thechangewasindubitable.ThedifferencebetweenhispresentairandwhatithadbeenintheOctagonRoomwasstrikinglygreat.Whywasit?Shethoughtofherfather,ofLadyRussell.Couldtherehavebeenanyunpleasantglances?Hebeganbyspeakingoftheconcertgravely,moreliketheCaptainWentworthofUppercrossownedhimselfdisappointed,hadexpectedsingingandinshort,mustconfessthatheshouldnotbesorrywhenitwasover.Annereplied,andspokeindefenceoftheperformancesowell,andyetinallowanceforhisfeelingssopleasantly,thathiscountenanceimproved,andherepliedagainwithalmostasmile.Theytalkedforafewminutesmoretheimprovementheldheevenlookeddowntowardsthebench,asifhesawaplaceonitwellworthoccupyingwhenatthatmomentatouchonhershoulderobligedAnnetoturnround.ItcamefromMrElliot.Hebeggedherpardon,butshemustbeappliedto,toexplainItalianagain.MissCarteretwasveryanxioustohaveageneralideaofwhatwasnexttobesung.Annecouldnotrefusebutneverhadshesacrificedtopolitenesswithamoresufferingspirit. Afewminutes,thoughasfewaspossible,wereinevitablyconsumedandwhenherownmistressagain,whenabletoturnandlookasshehaddonebefore,shefoundherselfaccostedbyCaptainWentworth,inareservedyethurriedsortoffarewell.“Hemustwishhergoodnighthewasgoingheshouldgethomeasfastashecould.” “Isnotthissongworthstayingfor?”saidAnne,suddenlystruckbyanideawhichmadeheryetmoreanxioustobeencouraging. “No!”herepliedimpressively,“thereisnothingworthmystayingfor”andhewasgonedirectly. JealousyofMrElliot!Itwastheonlyintelligiblemotive.CaptainWentworthjealousofheraffection!Couldshehavebelieveditaweekagothreehoursago!Foramomentthegratificationwasexquisite.But,alas!therewereverydifferentthoughtstosucceed.Howwassuchjealousytobequieted?Howwasthetruthtoreachhim?How,inallthepeculiardisadvantagesoftheirrespectivesituations,wouldheeverlearnofherrealsentiments?ItwasmiserytothinkofMrElliot’sattentions.Theirevilwasincalculable.