eeablecharmingmannersinCaptainWentworth,noshynessorreservetheyseemedalltoknoweachotherperfectly,andhewascomingtheverynextmorningtoshootwithCharles.Hewastocometobreakfast,butnotattheCottage,thoughthathadbeenproposedatfirstbutthenhehadbeenpressedtocometotheGreatHouseinstead,andheseemedafraidofbeinginMrsCharlesMusgrove’sway,onaccountofthechild,andtherefore,somehow,theyhardlyknewhow,itendedinCharles’sbeingtomeethimtobreakfastathisfather’s.
Anneunderstoodit.Hewishedtoavoidseeingher.Hehadinquiredafterher,shefound,slightly,asmightsuitaformerslightacquaintance,seemingtoacknowledgesuchasshehadacknowledged,actuated,perhaps,bythesameviewofescapingintroductionwhentheyweretomeet.
ThemorninghoursoftheCottagewerealwayslaterthanthoseoftheotherhouse,andonthemorrowthedifferencewassogreatthatMaryandAnnewerenotmorethanbeginningbreakfastwhenCharlescameintosaythattheywerejustsettingoff,thathewascomeforhisdogs,thathissisterswerefollowingwithCaptainWentworthhissistersmeaningtovisitMaryandthechild,andCaptainWentworthproposingalsotowaitonherforafewminutesifnotinconvenientandthoughCharleshadansweredforthechild’sbeinginnosuchstateascouldmakeitinconvenient,CaptainWentworthwouldnotbesatisfiedwithouthisrunningontogivenotice.
Mary,verymuchgratifiedbythisattention,wasdelightedtoreceivehim,whileathousandfeelingsrushedonAnne,ofwhichthiswasthemostconsoling,thatitwouldsoonbeover.Anditwassoonover.IntwominutesafterCharles’spreparation,theothersappearedtheywereinthedrawing-room.HereyehalfmetCaptainWentworth’s,abow,acurtseypassedsheheardhisvoicehetalkedtoMary,saidallthatwasright,saidsomethingtotheMissMusgroves,enoughtomarkaneasyfootingtheroomseemedfull,fullofpersonsandvoices,butafewminutesendedit.Charlesshewedhimselfatthewindow,allwasready,theirvisitorhadbowedandwasgone,theMissMusgrovesweregonetoo,suddenlyresolvingtowalktotheendofthevillagewiththesportsmen:theroomwascleared,andAnnemight