CHAPTER XXIII.

OnedayonlyhadpassedsinceAnne’sconversationwithMrsSmithbutakeenerinteresthadsucceeded,andshewasnowsolittletouchedbyMrElliot’sconduct,exceptbyitseffectsinonequarter,thatitbecameamatterofcoursethenextmorning,stilltodeferherexplanatoryvisitinRiversStreet.ShehadpromisedtobewiththeMusgrovesfrombreakfasttodinner.Herfaithwasplighted,andMrElliot’scharacter,liketheSultanessScheherazade’shead,mustliveanotherday. Shecouldnotkeepherappointmentpunctually,howevertheweatherwasunfavourable,andshehadgrievedovertherainonherfriends’account,andfeltitverymuchonherown,beforeshewasabletoattemptthewalk.WhenshereachedtheWhiteHart,andmadeherwaytotheproperapartment,shefoundherselfneitherarrivingquiteintime,northefirsttoarrive.Thepartybeforeherwere,MrsMusgrove,talkingtoMrsCroft,andCaptainHarvilletoCaptainWentworthandsheimmediatelyheardthatMaryandHenrietta,tooimpatienttowait,hadgoneoutthemomentithadcleared,butwouldbebackagainsoon,andthatthestrictestinjunctionshadbeenleftwithMrsMusgrovetokeephertheretilltheyreturned.Shehadonlytosubmit,sitdown,beoutwardlycomposed,andfeelherselfplungedatonceinalltheagitationswhichshehadmerelylaidheraccountoftastingalittlebeforethemorningclosed.Therewasnodelay,nowasteoftime.Shewasdeepinthehappinessofsuchmisery,orthemiseryofsuchhappiness,instantly.Twominutesafterherenteringtheroom,CaptainWentworthsaid— “Wewillwritetheletterweweretalkingof,Harville,now,ifyouwillgivemematerials.” Materialswereathand,onaseparatetablehewenttoit,andnearlyturninghisbacktothemall,wasengrossedbywriting. MrsMusgrovewasgivingMrsCroftthehistoryofhereldestdaughter’sengagement,andjustinthatinconvenienttoneofvoicewhichwasperfectlyaudiblewhileitpretendedtobeawhisper.Annefeltthatshedidnotbelongtotheconversation,andyet,asCaptainHarvilleseemedthoughtfulandnotdisposedtotalk,shecouldnotavoidhearingmanyundesirableparticularssuchas,“howMrMusgroveandmybrotherHayterhadmetagainandagaintotalkitoverwhatmybrotherHayterhadsaidoneday,andwhatMrMusgrovehadproposedthenext,andwhathadoccurredtomysisterHayter,andwhattheyoungpeoplehadwished,andwhatIsaidatfirstInevercouldconsentto,butwasafterwardspersuadedtothinkmightdoverywell,”andagreatdealinthesamestyleofopen-heartedcommunication:minutiaewhich,evenwitheveryadvantageoftasteanddelicacy,whichgoodMrsMusgrovecouldnotgive,couldbeproperlyinterestingonlytotheprincipals.MrsCroftwasattendingwithgreatgood-humour,andwhenevershespokeatall,itwasverysensibly.Annehopedthegentlemenmighteachbetoomuchself-occupiedtohear. “Andso,ma’am,allthesethingconsidered,”saidMrsMusgrove,inherpowerfulwhisper,“thoughwecouldhavewisheditdifferent,yet,altogether,wedidnotthinkitfairtostandoutanylonger,forCharlesHayterwasquitewildaboutit,andHenriettawasprettynearasbadandsowethoughttheyhadbettermarryatonce,andmakethebestofit,asmanyothershavedonebeforethem.Atanyrate,saidI,itwillbebetterthanalongengagement.” “ThatispreciselywhatIwasgoingtoobserve,”criedMrsCroft.“Iwouldratherhaveyoungpeoplesettleonasmallincomeatonce,andhavetostrugglewithafewdifficultiestogether,thanbeinvolvedinalongengagement.Ialwaysthinkthatnomutual—” “Oh!dearMrsCroft,”criedMrsMusgrove,unabletoletherfinishherspeech,“thereisnothingIsoabominateforyoungpeopleasalongengagement.ItiswhatIalwaysprotestedagainstformychildren.Itisallverywell,Iusedtosay,foryoungpeopletobeengaged,ifthereisacertaintyoftheirbeingabletomarryinsixmonths,orevenintwelvebutalongengagement—” “Yes,dearma’am,”saidMrsCroft,“oranuncertainengagement,anengagementwhichmaybelong.Tobeginwithoutknowingthatatsuchatimetherewillbethemeansofmarrying,Iholdtobeveryunsafeandunwise,andwhatIthinkallparentsshouldpreventasfarastheycan.” Annefoundanunexpectedinteresthere.Shefeltitsapplicationtoherself,feltitinanervousthrillalloverherandatthesamemomentthathereyesinstinctivelyglancedtowardsthedistanttable,CaptainWentworth’spenceasedtomove,hisheadwasraised,pausing,listening,andheturnedroundthenextinstanttogivealook,onequick,consciouslookather. Thetwoladiescontinuedtotalk,tore-urgethesameadmittedtruths,andenforcethemwithsuchexamplesoftheilleffectofacontrarypracticeashadfallenwithintheirobservation,butAnneheardnothingdistinctlyitwasonlyabuzzofwordsinherear,hermindwasinconfusion. CaptainHarville,whohadintruthbeenhearingnoneofit,nowlefthisseat,andmovedtoawindow,andAnneseemingtowatchhim,thoughitwasfromthoroughabsenceofmind,becamegraduallysensiblethathewasinvitinghertojoinhimwherehestood.Helookedatherwithasmile,andalittlemotionofthehead,whichexpressed,“Cometome,Ihavesomethingtosay”andtheunaffected,easykindnessofmannerwhichdenotedthefeelingsofanolderacquaintancethanhereallywas,stronglyenforcedtheinvitation.Sherousedherselfandwenttohim.Thewindowatwhichhestoodwasattheotherendoftheroomfromwherethetwoladiesweresitting,andthoughnearertoCaptainWentworth’stable,notverynear.Asshejoinedhim,CaptainHarville’scountenancere-assumedtheserious,thoughtfulexpressionwhichseemeditsnaturalcharacter. “Lookhere,”saidhe,unfoldingaparcelinhishand,anddisplayingasmallminiaturepainting,“doyouknowwhothatis?” “Certainly:CaptainBenwick.” “Yes,andyoumayguesswhoitisfor.But,”(inadeeptone,)“itwasnotdoneforher.MissElliot,doyourememberourwalkingtogetheratLyme,andgrievingforhim?Ilittlethoughtthen—butnomatter.ThiswasdrawnattheCape.HemetwithacleveryoungGermanartistattheCape,andincompliancewithapromisetomypoorsister,sattohim,andwasbringingithomeforherandIhavenowthechargeofgettingitproperlysetforanother!Itwasacommissiontome!Butwhoelsewastheretoemploy?IhopeIcanallowforhim.Iamnotsorry,indeed,tomakeitovertoanother.Heundertakesit”(lookingtowardsCaptainWentworth,)“heiswritingaboutitnow.”Andwithaquiveringliphewoundupthewholebyadding,“PoorFanny!shewouldnothaveforgottenhimsosoon!” “No,”repliedAnne,inalow,feelingvoice.“ThatIcaneasilybelieve.” “Itwasnotinhernature.Shedotedonhim.” “Itwouldnotbethenatureofanywomanwhotrulyloved.” CaptainHarvillesmiled,asmuchastosay,“Doyouclaimthatforyoursex?”andsheansweredthequestion,smilingalso,“Yes.Wecertainlydonotforgetyouassoonasyouforgetus.Itis,perhaps,ourfateratherthanourmerit.Wecannothelpourselve