fitwastocross,andwhenthepartyhadallreachedthegateofexit,thecarriageadvancinginthesamedirection,whichhadbeensometimeheard,wasjustcomingup,andprovedtobeAdmiralCroft’sgig.Heandhiswifehadtakentheirintendeddrive,andwerereturninghome.Uponhearinghowlongawalktheyoungpeoplehadengagedin,theykindlyofferedaseattoanyladywhomightbeparticularlytireditwouldsaveherafullmile,andtheyweregoingthroughUppercross.Theinvitationwasgeneral,andgenerallydeclined.TheMissMusgroveswerenotatalltired,andMarywaseitheroffended,bynotbeingaskedbeforeanyoftheothers,orwhatLouisacalledtheElliotpridecouldnotenduretomakeathirdinaonehorsechaise.
Thewalkingpartyhadcrossedthelane,andweresurmountinganoppositestile,andtheAdmiralwasputtinghishorseinmotionagain,whenCaptainWentworthclearedthehedgeinamomenttosaysomethingtohissister.Thesomethingmightbeguessedbyitseffects.
“MissElliot,Iamsureyouaretired,”criedMrsCroft.“Doletushavethepleasureoftakingyouhome.Hereisexcellentroomforthree,Iassureyou.Ifwewerealllikeyou,Ibelievewemightsitfour.Youmust,indeed,youmust.”
Annewasstillinthelaneandthoughinstinctivelybeginningtodecline,shewasnotallowedtoproceed.TheAdmiral’skindurgencycameinsupportofhiswife’stheywouldnotberefusedtheycompressedthemselvesintothesmallestpossiblespacetoleaveheracorner,andCaptainWentworth,withoutsayingaword,turnedtoher,andquietlyobligedhertobeassistedintothecarriage.
Yeshehaddoneit.Shewasinthecarriage,andfeltthathehadplacedherthere,thathiswillandhishandshaddoneit,thatsheowedittohisperceptionofherfatigue,andhisresolutiontogiveherrest.Shewasverymuchaffectedbytheviewofhisdispositiontowardsher,whichallthesethingsmadeapparent.Thislittlecircumstanceseemedthecompletionofallthathadgonebefore.Sheunderstoodhim.Hecouldnotforgiveher,buthecouldnotbeunfeeling.Thoughcondemningherforthepast,andconsideringitwithhighandunjustresentment,thoughperfectlycarelessofher,andthoughbecomingattachedtoanother,stillhecouldnotseehersuffer,withoutthedesireofgivingherrelief.Itwasaremainderoff