fingratitudeandinhumanityandAnnefelt,atsomemoments,thatnoflagrantopencrimecouldhavebeenworse.Shehadagreatdealtolistentoalltheparticularsofpastsadscenes,alltheminutiaeofdistressupondistress,whichinformerconversationshadbeenmerelyhintedat,weredweltonnowwithanaturalindulgence.Annecouldperfectlycomprehendtheexquisiterelief,andwasonlythemoreinclinedtowonderatthecomposureofherfriend’susualstateofmind.
Therewasonecircumstanceinthehistoryofhergrievancesofparticularirritation.ShehadgoodreasontobelievethatsomepropertyofherhusbandintheWestIndies,whichhadbeenformanyyearsunderasortofsequestrationforthepaymentofitsownincumbrances,mightberecoverablebypropermeasuresandthisproperty,thoughnotlarge,wouldbeenoughtomakehercomparativelyrich.Buttherewasnobodytostirinit.MrElliotwoulddonothing,andshecoulddonothingherself,equallydisabledfrompersonalexertionbyherstateofbodilyweakness,andfromemployingothersbyherwantofmoney.Shehadnonaturalconnexionstoassistherevenwiththeircounsel,andshecouldnotaffordtopurchasetheassistanceofthelaw.Thiswasacruelaggravationofactuallystraitenedmeans.Tofeelthatsheoughttobeinbettercircumstances,thatalittletroubleintherightplacemightdoit,andtofearthatdelaymightbeevenweakeningherclaims,washardtobear.
ItwasonthispointthatshehadhopedtoengageAnne’sgoodofficeswithMrElliot.Shehadpreviously,intheanticipationoftheirmarriage,beenveryapprehensiveoflosingherfriendbyitbutonbeingassuredthathecouldhavemadenoattemptofthatnature,sincehedidnotevenknowhertobeinBath,itimmediatelyoccurred,thatsomethingmightbedoneinherfavourbytheinfluenceofthewomanheloved,andshehadbeenhastilypreparingtointerestAnne’sfeelings,asfarastheobservancesduetoMrElliot’scharacterwouldallow,whenAnne’srefutationofthesupposedengagementchangedthefaceofeverythingandwhileittookfromherthenew-formedhopeofsucceedingintheobjectofherfirstanxiety,leftheratleastthecomfortoftellingthewholestoryherownway.
AfterlisteningtothisfulldescriptionofMrElliot,AnnecouldnotbutexpresssomesurpriseatMrsSmith’shavingspokenofhimsofavourablyinthebeginningoftheirconversation.“Shehadseemedtorecommendandpraisehim!”
“Mydear,”wasMrsSmith’sreply,“therewasnothingelsetobedone.Iconsideredyourmarryinghimascertain,thoughhemightnotyethavemadetheoffer,andIcouldnomorespeakthetruthofhim,thanifhehadbeenyourhusband.Myheartbledforyou,asItalkedofhappinessandyetheissensible,heisagreeable,andwithsuchawomanasyou,itwasnotabsolutelyhopeless.Hewasveryunkindtohisfirstwife.Theywerewretchedtogether.Butshewastooignorantandgiddyforrespect,andhehadneverlovedher.Iwaswillingtohopethatyoumustfarebetter.”
Annecouldjustacknowledgewithinherselfsuchapossibilityofhavingbeeninducedtomarryhim,asmadehershudderattheideaofthemiserywhichmusthavefollowed.ItwasjustpossiblethatshemighthavebeenpersuadedbyLadyRussell!Andundersuchasupposition,whichwouldhavebeenmostmiserable,whentimehaddisclosedall,toolate?
ItwasverydesirablethatLadyRussellshouldbenolongerdeceivedandoneoftheconcludingarrangementsofthisimportantconference,whichcarriedthemthroughthegreaterpartofthemorning,was,thatAnnehadfulllibertytocommunicatetoherfriendeverythingrelativetoMrsSmith,inwhichhisconductwasinvolved.