ook,heseesushekisseshishandtoyouhetakesyouformywife.Ah!thepeacehascometoosoonforthatyounker.PooroldSirArchibald!HowdoyoulikeBath,MissElliot?Itsuitsusverywell.Wearealwaysmeetingwithsomeoldfriendorotherthestreetsfullofthemeverymorningsuretohaveplentyofchatandthenwegetawayfromthemall,andshutourselvesinourlodgings,anddrawinourchairs,andareassnugasifwewereatKellynch,ay,orasweusedtobeevenatNorthYarmouthandDeal.Wedonotlikeourlodgingsheretheworse,Icantellyou,forputtingusinmindofthosewefirsthadatNorthYarmouth.Thewindblowsthroughoneofthecupboardsjustinthesameway.”
Whentheyweregotalittlefarther,Anneventuredtopressagainforwhathehadtocommunicate.ShehopedwhenclearofMilsomStreettohavehercuriositygratifiedbutshewasstillobligedtowait,fortheAdmiralhadmadeuphismindnottobegintilltheyhadgainedthegreaterspaceandquietofBelmontandasshewasnotreallyMrsCroft,shemustlethimhavehisownway.AssoonastheywerefairlyascendingBelmont,hebegan—
“Well,nowyoushallhearsomethingthatwillsurpriseyou.Butfirstofall,youmusttellmethenameoftheyoungladyIamgoingtotalkabout.Thatyounglady,youknow,thatwehaveallbeensoconcernedfor.TheMissMusgrove,thatallthishasbeenhappeningto.HerChristianname:IalwaysforgetherChristianname.”
Annehadbeenashamedtoappeartocomprehendsosoonasshereallydidbutnowshecouldsafelysuggestthenameof“Louisa.”
“Ay,ay,MissLouisaMusgrove,thatisthename.IwishyoungladieshadnotsuchanumberoffineChristiannames.IshouldneverbeoutiftheywereallSophys,orsomethingofthatsort.Well,thisMissLouisa,weallthought,youknow,wastomarryFrederick.Hewascourtingherweekafterweek.Theonlywonderwas,whattheycouldbewaitingfor,tillthebusinessatLymecamethen,indeed,itwasclearenoughthattheymustwaittillherbrainwassettoright.Buteventhentherewassomethingoddintheirwayofgoingon.InsteadofstayingatLyme,hewentofftoPlymouth,andthenhewentofftoseeEdward.WhenwecamebackfromMinehea