ssizes,andIamsogladwhentheyareover,andheissafebackagain.”
Theeveningendedwithdancing.Onitsbeingproposed,Anneofferedherservices,asusualandthoughhereyeswouldsometimesfillwithtearsasshesatattheinstrument,shewasextremelygladtobeemployed,anddesirednothinginreturnbuttobeunobserved.
Itwasamerry,joyousparty,andnooneseemedinhigherspiritsthanCaptainWentworth.Shefeltthathehadeverythingtoelevatehimwhichgeneralattentionanddeference,andespeciallytheattentionofalltheyoungwomen,coulddo.TheMissHayters,thefemalesofthefamilyofcousinsalreadymentioned,wereapparentlyadmittedtothehonourofbeinginlovewithhimandasforHenriettaandLouisa,theybothseemedsoentirelyoccupiedbyhim,thatnothingbutthecontinuedappearanceofthemostperfectgood-willbetweenthemselvescouldhavemadeitcrediblethattheywerenotdecidedrivals.Ifhewerealittlespoiltbysuchuniversal,sucheageradmiration,whocouldwonder?
TheseweresomeofthethoughtswhichoccupiedAnne,whileherfingersweremechanicallyatwork,proceedingforhalfanhourtogether,equallywithouterror,andwithoutconsciousness.Onceshefeltthathewaslookingatherself,observingheralteredfeatures,perhaps,tryingtotraceinthemtheruinsofthefacewhichhadoncecharmedhimandoncesheknewthathemusthavespokenofhershewashardlyawareofit,tillsheheardtheanswerbutthenshewassureofhishavingaskedhispartnerwhetherMissElliotneverdanced?Theanswerwas,“Oh,nonevershehasquitegivenupdancing.Shehadratherplay.Sheisnevertiredofplaying.”Once,too,hespoketoher.Shehadlefttheinstrumentonthedancingbeingover,andhehadsatdowntotrytomakeoutanairwhichhewishedtogivetheMissMusgrovesanideaof.Unintentionallyshereturnedtothatpartoftheroomhesawher,and,instantlyrising,said,withstudiedpoliteness—
“Ibegyourpardon,madam,thisisyourseat”andthoughsheimmediatelydrewbackwithadecidednegative,hewasnottobeinducedtositdownagain.
Annedidnotwishformoreofsuchlooksandspeeches.Hiscoldpoliteness,hisceremoniousgrace,wereworsethananything.