dywastomeeteverybodyinBath,LadyRussellwouldinalllikelihoodseehimsomewhere.Wouldsherecollecthim?Howwoulditallbe?
ShehadalreadybeenobligedtotellLadyRussellthatLouisaMusgrovewastomarryCaptainBenwick.IthadcosthersomethingtoencounterLadyRussell’ssurpriseandnow,ifshewerebyanychancetobethrownintocompanywithCaptainWentworth,herimperfectknowledgeofthemattermightaddanothershadeofprejudiceagainsthim.
ThefollowingmorningAnnewasoutwithherfriend,andforthefirsthour,inanincessantandfearfulsortofwatchforhiminvainbutatlast,inreturningdownPulteneyStreet,shedistinguishedhimontherighthandpavementatsuchadistanceastohavehiminviewthegreaterpartofthestreet.Thereweremanyothermenabouthim,manygroupswalkingthesameway,buttherewasnomistakinghim.ShelookedinstinctivelyatLadyRussellbutnotfromanymadideaofherrecognisinghimsosoonasshedidherself.No,itwasnottobesupposedthatLadyRussellwouldperceivehimtilltheywerenearlyopposite.Shelookedatherhowever,fromtimetotime,anxiouslyandwhenthemomentapproachedwhichmustpointhimout,thoughnotdaringtolookagain(forherowncountenancesheknewwasunfittobeseen),shewasyetperfectlyconsciousofLadyRussell’seyesbeingturnedexactlyinthedirectionforhim—ofherbeing,inshort,intentlyobservinghim.ShecouldthoroughlycomprehendthesortoffascinationhemustpossessoverLadyRussell’smind,thedifficultyitmustbeforhertowithdrawhereyes,theastonishmentshemustbefeelingthateightornineyearsshouldhavepassedoverhim,andinforeignclimesandinactiveservicetoo,withoutrobbinghimofonepersonalgrace!
Atlast,LadyRusselldrewbackherhead.“Now,howwouldshespeakofhim?”
“Youwillwonder,”saidshe,“whathasbeenfixingmyeyesolongbutIwaslookingaftersomewindow-curtains,whichLadyAliciaandMrsFranklandweretellingmeoflastnight.Theydescribedthedrawing-roomwindow-curtainsofoneofthehousesonthissideoftheway,andthispartofthestreet,asbeingthehandsomestandbesthungofanyinB