andMissCarteret,escortedbyMrElliotandColonelWallis,whohadhappenedtoarrivenearlyatthesameinstant,advancedintotheroom.Theothersjoinedthem,anditwasagroupinwhichAnnefoundherselfalsonecessarilyincluded.ShewasdividedfromCaptainWentworth.Theirinteresting,almosttoointerestingconversationmustbebrokenupforatime,butslightwasthepenancecomparedwiththehappinesswhichbroughtiton!Shehadlearnt,inthelasttenminutes,moreofhisfeelingstowardsLouisa,moreofallhisfeelingsthanshedaredtothinkofandshegaveherselfuptothedemandsoftheparty,totheneedfulcivilitiesofthemoment,withexquisite,thoughagitatedsensations.Shewasingoodhumourwithall.Shehadreceivedideaswhichdisposedhertobecourteousandkindtoall,andtopityeveryone,asbeinglesshappythanherself.
Thedelightfulemotionswerealittlesubdued,whenonsteppingbackfromthegroup,tobejoinedagainbyCaptainWentworth,shesawthathewasgone.ShewasjustintimetoseehimturnintotheConcertRoom.Hewasgonehehaddisappeared,shefeltamoment’sregret.But“theyshouldmeetagain.Hewouldlookforher,hewouldfindheroutbeforetheeveningwereover,andatpresent,perhaps,itwasaswelltobeasunder.Shewasinneedofalittleintervalforrecollection.”
UponLadyRussell’sappearancesoonafterwards,thewholepartywascollected,andallthatremainedwastomarshalthemselves,andproceedintotheConcertRoomandbeofalltheconsequenceintheirpower,drawasmanyeyes,exciteasmanywhispers,anddisturbasmanypeopleastheycould.
Very,veryhappywerebothElizabethandAnneElliotastheywalkedin.ElizabetharminarmwithMissCarteret,andlookingonthebroadbackofthedowagerViscountessDalrymplebeforeher,hadnothingtowishforwhichdidnotseemwithinherreachandAnne—butitwouldbeaninsulttothenatureofAnne’sfelicity,todrawanycomparisonbetweenitandhersister’stheoriginofoneallselfishvanity,oftheotherallgenerousattachment.
Annesawnothing,thoughtnothingofthebrilliancyoftheroom