th.)“TheLaconiahadcomeintoPlymouththeweekbeforenodangerofherbeingsenttoseaagain.Hestoodhischancefortherestwroteupforleaveofabsence,butwithoutwaitingthereturn,travellednightanddaytillhegottoPortsmouth,rowedofftotheGrapplerthatinstant,andneverleftthepoorfellowforaweek.That’swhathedid,andnobodyelsecouldhavesavedpoorJames.Youmaythink,MissElliot,whetherheisdeartous!”
Annedidthinkonthequestionwithperfectdecision,andsaidasmuchinreplyasherownfeelingcouldaccomplish,orashisseemedabletobear,forhewastoomuchaffectedtorenewthesubject,andwhenhespokeagain,itwasofsomethingtotallydifferent.
MrsHarville’sgivingitasheropinionthatherhusbandwouldhavequitewalkingenoughbythetimehereachedhome,determinedthedirectionofallthepartyinwhatwastobetheirlastwalktheywouldaccompanythemtotheirdoor,andthenreturnandsetoffthemselves.ByalltheircalculationstherewasjusttimeforthisbutastheydrewneartheCobb,therewassuchageneralwishtowalkalongitoncemore,allweresoinclined,andLouisasoongrewsodetermined,thatthedifferenceofaquarterofanhour,itwasfound,wouldbenodifferenceatallsowithallthekindleave-taking,andallthekindinterchangeofinvitationsandpromiseswhichmaybeimagined,theypartedfromCaptainandMrsHarvilleattheirowndoor,andstillaccompaniedbyCaptainBenwick,whoseemedtoclingtothemtothelast,proceededtomaketheproperadieustotheCobb.
AnnefoundCaptainBenwickagaindrawingnearher.LordByron’s“darkblueseas”couldnotfailofbeingbroughtforwardbytheirpresentview,andshegladlygavehimallherattentionaslongasattentionwaspossible.Itwassoondrawn,perforceanotherway.
TherewastoomuchwindtomakethehighpartofthenewCobbpleasantfortheladies,andtheyagreedtogetdownthestepstothelower,andallwerecontentedtopassquietlyandcarefullydownthesteepflight,exceptingLouisashemustbejumpeddownthembyCaptainWentworth.Inalltheirwalks,hehadhadtojumpherfromthestilesthesensationwasdelightfultoher.Thehardnessofthepavementforherfeet,madehimlesswillinguponthepresentoccasionhedidit,however.Shewassafelydown,andinstantly,toshowherenjoyment,ranupthestepstobejumpeddownagain.Headvisedheragainstit,thoughtthejartoogreatbutno,hereasonedandtalkedinvain,shesmiledandsaid,“IamdeterminedIwill:”heputouthishandsshewastooprecipitatebyhalfasecond,shefellonthepavementontheLowerCobb,andwastakenuplifeless!Therewasnowound,noblood,novisiblebruisebuthereyeswereclosed,shebreathednot,herfacewaslikedeath.Thehorrorofthemomenttoallwhostoodaround!
CaptainWentworth,whohadcaughtherup,kneltwithherinhisarms,lookingonherwithafaceaspallidasherown,inanagonyofsilence.“Sheisdead!sheisdead!”screamedMary,catchingholdofherhus