CHAPTER XXI.

AnnerecollectedwithpleasurethenextmorningherpromiseofgoingtoMrsSmith,meaningthatitshouldengageherfromhomeatthetimewhenMrElliotwouldbemostlikelytocallfortoavoidMrElliotwasalmostafirstobject. Shefeltagreatdealofgood-willtowardshim.Inspiteofthemischiefofhisattentions,sheowedhimgratitudeandregard,perhapscompassion.Shecouldnothelpthinkingmuchoftheextraordinarycircumstancesattendingtheiracquaintance,oftherightwhichheseemedtohavetointeresther,byeverythinginsituation,byhisownsentiments,byhisearlyprepossession.Itwasaltogetherveryextraordinaryflattering,butpainful.Therewasmuchtoregret.HowshemighthavefelthadtherebeennoCaptainWentworthinthecase,wasnotworthenquiryfortherewasaCaptainWentworthandbetheconclusionofthepresentsuspensegoodorbad,heraffectionwouldbehisforever.Theirunion,shebelieved,couldnotdividehermorefromothermen,thantheirfinalseparation. Prettiermusingsofhigh-wroughtloveandeternalconstancy,couldneverhavepassedalongthestreetsofBath,thanAnnewassportingwithfromCamdenPlacetoWestgateBuildings.Itwasalmostenoughtospreadpurificationandperfumealltheway. Shewassureofapleasantreceptionandherfriendseemedthismorningparticularlyobligedtoherforcoming,seemedhardlytohaveexpectedher,thoughithadbeenanappointment. AnaccountoftheconcertwasimmediatelyclaimedandAnne’srecollectionsoftheconcertwerequitehappyenoughtoanimateherfeaturesandmakeherrejoicetotalkofit.Allthatshecouldtellshetoldmostgladly,buttheallwaslittleforonewhohadbeenthere,andunsatisfactoryforsuchanenquirerasMrsSmith,whohadalreadyheard,throughtheshortcutofalaundressandawaiter,rathermoreofthegeneralsuccessandproduceoftheeveningthanAnnecouldrelate,andwhonowaskedinvainforseveralparticularsofthecompany.EverybodyofanyconsequenceornotorietyinBathwaswellknowbynametoMrsSmith. “ThelittleDurandswerethere,Iconclude,”saidshe,“withtheirmouthsopentocatchthemusic,likeunfledgedsparrowsreadytobefed.Theynevermissaconcert.” “YesIdidnotseethemmyself,butIheardMrElliotsaytheywereintheroom.” “TheIbbotsons,weretheythere?andthetwonewbeauties,withthetallIrishofficer,whoistalkedofforoneofthem.” “Idonotknow.Idonotthinktheywere.” “OldLadyMaryMaclean?Ineednotaskafterher.Shenevermisses,Iknowandyoumusthaveseenher.ShemusthavebeeninyourowncircleforasyouwentwithLadyDalrymple,youwereintheseatsofgrandeur,roundtheorchestra,ofcourse.” “No,thatwaswhatIdreaded.Itwouldhavebeenveryunpleasanttomeineveryrespect.ButhappilyLadyDalrymplealwayschoosestobefartheroffandwewereexceedinglywellplaced,thatis,forhearingImustnotsayforseeing,becauseIappeartohaveseenverylittle.” “Oh!yousawenoughforyourownamusement.Icanunderstand.Thereisasortofdomesticenjoymenttobeknowneveninacrowd,andthisyouhad.Youwerealargepartyinyourselves,andyouwantednothingbeyond.” “ButIoughttohavelookedaboutmemore,”saidAnne,consciouswhileshespokethattherehadinfactbeennowantoflookingabout,thattheobjectonlyhadbeendeficient. “No,noyouwerebetteremployed.Youneednottellmethatyouhadapleasantevening.Iseeitinyoureye.Iperfectlyseehowthehourspassed:thatyouhadalwayssomethingagreeabletolistento.Intheintervalsoftheconcertitwasconversation.” Annehalfsmiledandsaid,“Doyouseethatinmyeye?” “Yes,Ido.Yourcountenanceperfectlyinformsmethatyouwereincompanylastnightwiththepersonwhomyouthinkthemostagreeableintheworld,thepersonwhointerestsyouatthispresenttimemorethanalltherestoftheworldputtogether.” AblushoverspreadAnne’scheeks.Shecouldsaynothing. “Andsuchbeingthecase,”continuedMrsSmith,afterashortpause,“IhopeyoubelievethatIdoknowhowtovalueyourkindnessincomingtomethismorning.Itisreallyverygoodofyoutocomeandsitwithme,whenyoumusthavesomanypleasanterdemandsuponyourtime.” Anneheardnothingofthis.Shewasstillintheastonishmentandconfusionexcitedbyherfriend’spenetration,unabletoimaginehowanyreportofCaptainWentworthcouldhavereachedher.Afteranothershortsilence— “Pray,”saidMrsSmith,“isMrElliotawareofyouracquaintancewithme?DoesheknowthatIaminBath?” “MrElliot!”repeatedAnne,lookingupsurprised.Amoment’sreflectionshewedherthemistakeshehadbeenunder.Shecaughtitinstantaneouslyandrecoveringhercouragewiththefeelingofsafety,soonadded,morecomposedly,“AreyouacquaintedwithMrElliot?” “Ihavebeenagooddealacquaintedwithhim,”repliedMrsSmith,gravely,“butitseemswornoutnow.Itisagreatwhilesincewemet.” “Iwasnotatallawareofthis.Younevermentioneditbefore.HadIknownit,Iwouldhavehadthepleasureoftalkingtohimaboutyou.” “Toconfessthetruth,”saidMrsSmith,assumingherusualairofcheerfulness,“thatisexactlythepleasureIwantyoutohave.IwantyoutotalkaboutmetoMrElliot.Iwantyourinterestwithhim.Hecanbeofessentialservicetomeandifyouwouldhavethegoodness,mydearMissElliot,tomakeitanobjecttoyourself,ofcourseitisdone.” “IshouldbeextremelyhappyIhopeyoucannotdoubtmywillingnesstobeofeventheslightestusetoyou,”repliedAnne“butIsuspectthatyouareconsideringmeashavingahigherclaimonMrElliot,agreaterrighttoinfluencehim,thanisreallythecase.Iamsureyouhave,somehoworother,imbibedsuchanotion.YoumustconsidermeonlyasMrElliot’srelation.Ifinthatlightthereisanythingwhichyousupposehiscousinmightfairlyaskofhim,Ibegyouwouldnothesitatetoemployme.” MrsSmithgaveherapenetratingglance,andthen,smiling,said— “Ihavebeenalittlepremature,IperceiveIbegyourpardon.Ioughttohavewaitedforofficialinformation.Butnow,mydearMissElliot,asanoldfriend,dogivemeahintastowhenImayspeak.Nextweek?TobesurebynextweekImaybeallowedtothinkitallsettled,andbuildmyownselfishschemesonMrElliot’sgoodfortune.” “No,”repliedAnne,“nornextweek,nornext,nornext.Iassureyouthatnothingofthesortyouarethinkingofwillbesettledanyweek.IamnotgoingtomarryMrElliot.IshouldliketoknowwhyyouimagineIam?” MrsSmithlookedatheragain,lookedearnestly,smiled,shookherhead,andexclaimed— “Now,howIdowishIunderstoodyou!HowIdowishIknewwhatyouwereat!Ihaveagreatideathatyoudonotdesigntobecruel,whentherightmomentoccurs.Tillitdoescome,youknow,wewomennevermeantohaveanybody.Itisathingofcourseamongus,thateverymanisrefused,tillheoffers.Butwhyshouldyoubecruel?Letmepleadformy—presentfriendIcannotcallhim,butformyformerfriend.Wherecanyoulookforamoresuitablematch?Wherecouldyouexpectamoregentlemanlike,agreeableman?LetmerecommendMrElliot.IamsureyouhearnothingbutgoodofhimfromColonelWallisandwhocanknowhimbetterthanColonelWallis?” “MydearMrsSmith,MrElliot’swifehasnotbeendeadmuchabovehalfayear.Heoughtnotto