ath,butcouldnotrecollecttheexactnumber,andIhavebeentryingtofindoutwhichitcouldbebutIconfessIcanseenocurtainshereaboutsthatanswertheirdescription.”
Annesighedandblushedandsmiled,inpityanddisdain,eitheratherfriendorherself.Thepartwhichprovokedhermost,wasthatinallthiswasteofforesightandcaution,sheshouldhavelosttherightmomentforseeingwhetherhesawthem.
Adayortwopassedwithoutproducinganything.Thetheatreortherooms,wherehewasmostlikelytobe,werenotfashionableenoughfortheElliots,whoseeveningamusementsweresolelyintheelegantstupidityofprivateparties,inwhichtheyweregettingmoreandmoreengagedandAnne,weariedofsuchastateofstagnation,sickofknowingnothing,andfancyingherselfstrongerbecauseherstrengthwasnottried,wasquiteimpatientfortheconcertevening.ItwasaconcertforthebenefitofapersonpatronisedbyLadyDalrymple.Ofcoursetheymustattend.Itwasreallyexpectedtobeagoodone,andCaptainWentworthwasveryfondofmusic.Ifshecouldonlyhaveafewminutesconversationwithhimagain,shefanciedsheshouldbesatisfiedandastothepowerofaddressinghim,shefeltallovercourageiftheopportunityoccurred.Elizabethhadturnedfromhim,LadyRusselloverlookedhimhernerveswerestrengthenedbythesecircumstancesshefeltthatsheowedhimattention.
ShehadoncepartlypromisedMrsSmithtospendtheeveningwithherbutinashorthurriedcallsheexcusedherselfandputitoff,withthemoredecidedpromiseofalongervisitonthemorrow.MrsSmithgaveamostgood-humouredacquiescence.
“Byallmeans,”saidshe“onlytellmeallaboutit,whenyoudocome.Whoisyourparty?”
Annenamedthemall.MrsSmithmadenoreplybutwhenshewasleavinghersaid,andwithanexpressionhalfserious,halfarch,“Well,Iheartilywishyourconcertmayansweranddonotfailmeto-morrowifyoucancomeforIbegintohaveaforebodingthatImaynothavemanymorevisitsfromyou.”
Annewasstartledandconfusedbutafterstandinginamoment’ssuspense,wasobliged,andnotsorrytobeobliged,tohurryaway.