izabethhadnotonlybeenquiteatherladyship’sservicethemselves,buthadactuallybeenhappytobeemployedbyherincollectingothers,andhadbeenatthetroubleofinvitingbothLadyRussellandMrElliotandMrElliothadmadeapointofleavingColonelWallisearly,andLadyRussellhadfresharrangedallhereveningengagementsinordertowaitonher.AnnehadthewholehistoryofallthatsuchaneveningcouldsupplyfromLadyRussell.Toher,itsgreatestinterestmustbe,inhavingbeenverymuchtalkedofbetweenherfriendandMrElliotinhavingbeenwishedfor,regretted,andatthesametimehonouredforstayingawayinsuchacause.Herkind,compassionatevisitstothisoldschoolfellow,sickandreduced,seemedtohavequitedelightedMrElliot.Hethoughtheramostextraordinaryyoungwomaninhertemper,manners,mind,amodeloffemaleexcellence.HecouldmeetevenLadyRussellinadiscussionofhermeritsandAnnecouldnotbegiventounderstandsomuchbyherfriend,couldnotknowherselftobesohighlyratedbyasensibleman,withoutmanyofthoseagreeablesensationswhichherfriendmeanttocreate.
LadyRussellwasnowperfectlydecidedinheropinionofMrElliot.ShewasasmuchconvincedofhismeaningtogainAnneintimeasofhisdeservingher,andwasbeginningtocalculatethenumberofweekswhichwouldfreehimfromalltheremainingrestraintsofwidowhood,andleavehimatlibertytoexerthismostopenpowersofpleasing.ShewouldnotspeaktoAnnewithhalfthecertaintyshefeltonthesubject,shewouldventureonlittlemorethanhintsofwhatmightbehereafter,ofapossibleattachmentonhisside,ofthedesirablenessofthealliance,supposingsuchattachmenttoberealandreturned.Anneheardher,andmadenoviolentexclamationssheonlysmiled,blushed,andgentlyshookherhead.
“Iamnomatch-maker,asyouwellknow,”saidLadyRussell,“beingmuchtoowellawareoftheuncertaintyofallhumaneventsandcalculations.IonlymeanthatifMrElliotshouldsometimehencepayhisaddressestoyou,andifyoushouldbedisposedtoaccepthim,Ithinktherewouldbeeverypossibilityofyourbe