owbutsuch,hecouldassureher,hadbeenthefact.HehadmanyyearsagoreceivedsuchadescriptionofMissAnneElliotashadinspiredhimwiththehighestideaofhermerit,andexcitedthewarmestcuriositytoknowher.”
AnnecouldthinkofnoonesolikelytohavespokenwithpartialityofhermanyyearsagoastheMrWentworthofMonkford,CaptainWentworth’sbrother.HemighthavebeeninMrElliot’scompany,butshehadnotcouragetoaskthequestion.
“ThenameofAnneElliot,”saidhe,“haslonghadaninterestingsoundtome.Verylonghasitpossessedacharmovermyfancyand,ifIdared,Iwouldbreathemywishesthatthenamemightneverchange.”
Such,shebelieved,werehiswordsbutscarcelyhadshereceivedtheirsound,thanherattentionwascaughtbyothersoundsimmediatelybehindher,whichrenderedeverythingelsetrivial.HerfatherandLadyDalrymplewerespeaking.
“Awell-lookingman,”saidSirWalter,“averywell-lookingman.”
“Averyfineyoungmanindeed!”saidLadyDalrymple.“MoreairthanoneoftenseesinBath.Irish,Idaresay.”
“No,Ijustknowhisname.Abowingacquaintance.WentworthCaptainWentworthofthenavy.HissistermarriedmytenantinSomersetshire,theCroft,whorentsKellynch.”
BeforeSirWalterhadreachedthispoint,Anne’seyeshadcaughttherightdirection,anddistinguishedCaptainWentworthstandingamongaclusterofmenatalittledistance.Ashereyesfellonhim,hisseemedtobewithdrawnfromher.Ithadthatappearance.Itseemedasifshehadbeenonemomenttoolateandaslongasshedaredobserve,hedidnotlookagain:buttheperformancewasrecommencing,andshewasforcedtoseemtorestoreherattentiontotheorchestraandlookstraightforward.
Whenshecouldgiveanotherglance,hehadmovedaway.Hecouldnothavecomenearertoherifhewouldshewassosurroundedandshutin:butshewouldratherhavecaughthiseye.
MrElliot’sspeech,too,distressedher.Shehadnolongeranyinclinationtotalktohim.Shewishedhimnotsonearher.
Thefirstactwasover.Nowshehopedforsomebeneficialchangeand,afteraper