CHAPTER XXII.

Annewenthometothinkoverallthatshehadheard.Inonepoint,herfeelingswererelievedbythisknowledgeofMrElliot.Therewasnolongeranythingoftendernessduetohim.HestoodasopposedtoCaptainWentworth,inallhisownunwelcomeobtrusivenessandtheevilofhisattentionslastnight,theirremediablemischiefhemighthavedone,wasconsideredwithsensationsunqualified,unperplexed.Pityforhimwasallover.Butthiswastheonlypointofrelief.Ineveryotherrespect,inlookingaroundher,orpenetratingforward,shesawmoretodistrustandtoapprehend.ShewasconcernedforthedisappointmentandpainLadyRussellwouldbefeelingforthemortificationswhichmustbehangingoverherfatherandsister,andhadallthedistressofforeseeingmanyevils,withoutknowinghowtoavertanyoneofthem.Shewasmostthankfulforherownknowledgeofhim.ShehadneverconsideredherselfasentitledtorewardfornotslightinganoldfriendlikeMrsSmith,butherewasarewardindeedspringingfromit!MrsSmithhadbeenabletotellherwhatnooneelsecouldhavedone.Couldtheknowledgehavebeenextendedthroughherfamily?Butthiswasavainidea.ShemusttalktoLadyRussell,tellher,consultwithher,andhavingdoneherbest,waittheeventwithasmuchcomposureaspossibleandafterall,hergreatestwantofcomposurewouldbeinthatquarterofthemindwhichcouldnotbeopenedtoLadyRussellinthatflowofanxietiesandfearswhichmustbealltoherself. Shefound,onreachinghome,thatshehad,assheintended,escapedseeingMrElliotthathehadcalledandpaidthemalongmorningvisitbuthardlyhadshecongratulatedherself,andfeltsafe,whensheheardthathewascomingagainintheevening. “Ihadnotthesmallestintentionofaskinghim,”saidElizabeth,withaffectedcarelessness,“buthegavesomanyhintssoMrsClaysays,atleast.” “Indeed,Idosayit.Ineversawanybodyinmylifespellharderforaninvitation.Poorman!Iwasreallyinpainforhimforyourhard-heartedsister,MissAnne,seemsbentoncruelty.” “Oh!”criedElizabeth,“Ihavebeenrathertoomuchusedtothegametobesoonovercomebyagentleman’shints.However,whenIfoundhowexcessivelyhewasregrettingthatheshouldmissmyfatherthismorning,Igavewayimmediately,forIwouldneverreallyomitanopportunityofbringinghimandSirWaltertogether.Theyappeartosomuchadvantageincompanywitheachother.Eachbehavingsopleasantly.MrElliotlookingupwithsomuchrespect.” “Quitedelightful!”criedMrsClay,notdaring,however,toturnhereyestowardsAnne.“Exactlylikefatherandson!DearMissElliot,mayInotsayfatherandson?” “Oh!Ilaynoembargoonanybody’swords.Ifyouwillhavesuchideas!But,uponmyword,Iamscarcelysensibleofhisattentionsbeingbeyondthoseofothermen.” “MydearMissElliot!”exclaimedMrsClay,liftingherhandsandeyes,andsinkingalltherestofherastonishmentinaconvenientsilence. “Well,mydearPenelope,youneednotbesoalarmedabouthim.Ididinvitehim,youknow.Isenthimawaywithsmiles.WhenIfoundhewasreallygoingtohisfriendsatThornberryParkforthewholedayto-morrow,Ihadcompassiononhim.” Anneadmiredthegoodactingofthefriend,inbeingabletoshewsuchpleasureasshedid,intheexpectationandintheactualarrivaloftheverypersonwhosepresencemustreallybeinterferingwithherprimeobject.ItwasimpossiblebutthatMrsClaymusthatethesightofMrElliotandyetshecouldassumeamostobliging,placidlook,andappearquitesatisfiedwiththecurtailedlicenseofdevotingherselfonlyhalfasmuchtoSirWalterasshewouldhavedoneotherwise. ToAnneherselfitwasmostdistressingtoseeMrElliotentertheroomandquitepainfultohavehimapproachandspeaktoher.Shehadbeenusedbeforetofeelthathecouldnotbealwaysquitesincere,butnowshesawinsincerityineverything.Hisattentivedeferencetoherfather,contrastedwithhisformerlanguage,wasodiousandwhenshethoughtofhiscruelconducttowardsMrsSmith,shecouldhardlybearthesightofhispresentsmilesandmildness,orthesoundofhisartificialgoodsentiments. Shemeanttoavoidanysuchalterationofmannersasmightprovokearemonstranceonhisside.Itwasagreatobjecttohertoescapeallenquiryoreclatbutitwasherintentiontobeasdecidedlycooltohimasmightbecompatiblewiththeirrelationshipandtoretrace,asquietlyasshecould,thefewstepsofunnecessaryintimacyshehadbeengraduallyledalong.Shewasaccordinglymoreguarded,andmorecool,thanshehadbeenthenightbefore. Hewantedtoanimatehercuriosityagainastohowandwherehecouldhaveheardherformerlypraisedwantedverymuchtobegratifiedbymoresolicitationbutthecharmwasbroken:hefoundthattheheatandanimationofapublicroomwasnecessarytokindlehismodestcousin’svanityhefound,atleast,thatitwasnottobedonenow,byanyofthoseattemptswhichhecouldhazardamongthetoo-commandingclaimsoftheothers.Helittlesurmisedthatitwasasubjectactingnowexactlyagainsthisinterest,bringingimmediatelytoherthoughtsallthosepartsofhisconductwhichwereleastexcusable. ShehadsomesatisfactioninfindingthathewasreallygoingoutofBaththenextmorning,goingearly,andthathewouldbegonethegreaterpartoftwodays.HewasinvitedagaintoCamdenPlacetheveryeveningofhisreturnbutfromThursdaytoSaturdayeveninghisabsencewascertain.ItwasbadenoughthataMrsClayshouldbealwaysbeforeherbutthatadeeperhypocriteshouldbeaddedtotheirparty,seemedthedestructionofeverythinglikepeaceandcomfort.ItwassohumiliatingtoreflectontheconstantdeceptionpractisedonherfatherandElizabethtoconsiderthevarioussourcesofmortificationpreparingforthem!MrsClay’sselfishnesswasnotsocomplicatenorsorevoltingashisandAnnewouldhavecompoundedforthemarriageatonce,withallitsevils,tobeclearofMrElliot’ssubtletiesinendeavouringtopreventit. OnFridaymorningshemeanttogoveryearlytoLadyRussell,andaccomplishthenecessarycommunicationandshewouldhavegonedirectlyafterbreakfast,butthatMrsClaywasalsogoingoutonsomeobligingpurposeofsavinghersistertrouble,whichdeterminedhertowaittillshemightbesafefromsucha