tracting,andindesperation,shesaidshewouldgohome.
“Byallmeans,mydear,”criedMrsMusgrove,“gohomedirectly,andtakecareofyourself,thatyoumaybefitfortheevening.IwishSarahwasheretodoctoryou,butIamnodoctormyself.Charles,ringandorderachair.Shemustnotwalk.”
Butthechairwouldneverdo.Worsethanall!TolosethepossibilityofspeakingtwowordstoCaptainWentworthinthecourseofherquiet,solitaryprogressupthetown(andshefeltalmostcertainofmeetinghim)couldnotbeborne.Thechairwasearnestlyprotestedagainst,andMrsMusgrove,whothoughtonlyofonesortofillness,havingassuredherselfwithsomeanxiety,thattherehadbeennofallinthecasethatAnnehadnotatanytimelatelyslippeddown,andgotablowonherheadthatshewasperfectlyconvincedofhavinghadnofallcouldpartwithhercheerfully,anddependonfindingherbetteratnight.
Anxioustoomitnopossibleprecaution,Annestruggled,andsaid—
“Iamafraid,ma’am,thatitisnotperfectlyunderstood.Praybesogoodastomentiontotheothergentlementhatwehopetoseeyourwholepartythisevening.IamafraidtherehadbeensomemistakeandIwishyouparticularlytoassureCaptainHarvilleandCaptainWentworth,thatwehopetoseethemboth.”
“Oh!mydear,itisquiteunderstood,Igiveyoumyword.CaptainHarvillehasnothoughtbutofgoing.”
“Doyouthinkso?ButIamafraidandIshouldbesoverysorry.Willyoupromisemetomentionit,whenyouseethemagain?Youwillseethemboththismorning,Idaresay.Dopromiseme.”
“TobesureIwill,ifyouwishit.Charles,ifyouseeCaptainHarvilleanywhere,remembertogiveMissAnne’smessage.Butindeed,mydear,youneednotbeuneasy.CaptainHarvilleholdshimselfquiteengaged,I’llanswerforitandCaptainWentworththesame,Idaresay.”
Annecoulddonomorebutherheartprophesiedsomemischancetodamptheperfectionofherfelicity.Itcouldnotbeverylasting,however.EvenifhedidnotcometoCamdenPlacehimself,itwouldbeinherpowertosendanintelligiblesentencebyCaptainHarville.Anothermomentaryvexationoccurred.Charles,inhisrealconcernandgoodnature,wouldgohomewithhertherewasnopreventinghim.Thiswasalmostcruel.Butshecouldnotbelongungratefulhewassacrificinganengagementatagunsmith’s,tobeofusetoherandshesetoffwithhim,withnofeelingbutgratitudeapparent.
TheywereonUnionStreet,whenaquickerstepbehind,asomethingoffamiliarsound,gavehertwomoments’preparationforthesightofCaptainWentworth.Hejoinedthembut,asifirresolutewhethertojoinortopasson,saidnothing,onlylooked.Annecouldcommandherselfenoughtoreceivethatlook,andnotrepulsively.Thecheekswhichhadbeenpalenowglowed,andthemovementswhichhadhesitatedweredecided.Hewalkedbyherside.Presently,struckbyasuddenthought,Charlessaid—
“CaptainWentworth,whichwayareyougoing?OnlytoGayStreet,orfartherupthetown?”
“Ihardlyknow,”repliedCaptainWentworth,surprised.
“AreyougoingashighasBelmont?AreyougoingnearCamdenPlace?Because,ifyouare,Ishallhavenoscrupleinaskingyoutotakemyplace,andgiveAnneyourarmtoherfather’sdoor.Sheisratherdoneforthismorning,andmustnotgosofarwithouthelp,andIoughttobeatthatfellow’sintheMarketPlace.Hepromisedmethesightofacapitalgunheisjustgoingtosendoffsaidhewouldkeepitunpackedtothelastpossiblemoment,thatImightseeitandifIdonotturnbacknow,