ove,andthedejected,thinking,feeling,reading,CaptainBenwick,seemedeachofthemeverythingthatwouldnotsuittheother.Theirmindsmostdissimilar!Wherecouldhavebeentheattraction?Theanswersoonpresenteditself.Ithadbeeninsituation.Theyhadbeenthrowntogetherseveralweekstheyhadbeenlivinginthesamesmallfamilyparty:sinceHenrietta’scomingaway,theymusthavebeendependingalmostentirelyoneachother,andLouisa,justrecoveringfromillness,hadbeeninaninterestingstate,andCaptainBenwickwasnotinconsolable.ThatwasapointwhichAnnehadnotbeenabletoavoidsuspectingbeforeandinsteadofdrawingthesameconclusionasMary,fromthepresentcourseofevents,theyservedonlytoconfirmtheideaofhishavingfeltsomedawningoftendernesstowardherself.Shedidnotmean,however,toderivemuchmorefromittogratifyhervanity,thanMarymighthaveallowed.Shewaspersuadedthatanytolerablypleasingyoungwomanwhohadlistenedandseemedtofeelforhimwouldhavereceivedthesamecompliment.Hehadanaffectionateheart.Hemustlovesomebody.
Shesawnoreasonagainsttheirbeinghappy.Louisahadfinenavalfervourtobeginwith,andtheywouldsoongrowmorealike.Hewouldgaincheerfulness,andshewouldlearntobeanenthusiastforScottandLordByronnay,thatwasprobablylearntalreadyofcoursetheyhadfalleninloveoverpoetry.TheideaofLouisaMusgroveturnedintoapersonofliterarytaste,andsentimentalreflectionwasamusing,butshehadnodoubtofitsbeingso.ThedayatLyme,thefallfromtheCobb,mightinfluenceherhealth,hernerves,hercourage,hercharactertotheendofherlife,asthoroughlyasitappearedtohaveinfluencedherfate.
Theconclusionofthewholewas,thatifthewomanwhohadbeensensibleofCaptainWentworth’smeritscouldbeallowedtopreferanotherman,therewasnothingintheengagementtoexcitelastingwonderandifCaptainWentworthlostnofriendbyit,certainlynothingtoberegretted.No,itwasnotregretwhichmadeAnne’sheartbeatinspiteofherself,andbroughtthecolourintohercheekswhenshethoughtofCaptainWentworth