obeabletopartandeattheirdinnerintolerableeaseofmindandthenitwas,justbeforetheyparted,thatthetwoyoungauntswereablesofartodigressfromtheirnephew’sstate,astogivetheinformationofCaptainWentworth’svisitstayingfiveminutesbehindtheirfatherandmother,toendeavourtoexpresshowperfectlydelightedtheywerewithhim,howmuchhandsomer,howinfinitelymoreagreeabletheythoughthimthananyindividualamongtheirmaleacquaintance,whohadbeenatallafavouritebefore.Howgladtheyhadbeentohearpapainvitehimtostaydinner,howsorrywhenhesaiditwasquiteoutofhispower,andhowgladagainwhenhehadpromisedinreplytopapaandmamma’sfartherpressinginvitationstocomeanddinewiththemonthemorrow—actuallyonthemorrowandhehadpromiseditinsopleasantamanner,asifhefeltallthemotiveoftheirattentionjustasheought.Andinshort,hehadlookedandsaideverythingwithsuchexquisitegrace,thattheycouldassurethemall,theirheadswerebothturnedbyhimandofftheyran,quiteasfullofgleeasoflove,andapparentlymorefullofCaptainWentworththanoflittleCharles.
Thesamestoryandthesameraptureswererepeated,whenthetwogirlscamewiththeirfather,throughthegloomoftheevening,tomakeenquiriesandMrMusgrove,nolongerunderthefirstuneasinessabouthisheir,couldaddhisconfirmationandpraise,andhopetherewouldbenownooccasionforputtingCaptainWentworthoff,andonlybesorrytothinkthatthecottageparty,probably,wouldnotliketoleavethelittleboy,togivehimthemeeting.“Ohnoastoleavingthelittleboy,”bothfatherandmotherwereinmuchtoostrongandrecentalarmtobearthethoughtandAnne,inthejoyoftheescape,couldnothelpaddingherwarmprotestationstotheirs.
CharlesMusgrove,indeed,afterwards,shewedmoreofinclination“thechildwasgoingonsowell,andhewishedsomuchtobeintroducedtoCaptainWentworth,that,perhaps,hemightjointhemintheeveninghewouldnotdinefromhome,buthemightwalkinforhalfanhour.”Butinthishewaseagerlyopposedbyhiswife,with“Oh!no,indeed,Charles,Icannotbeartohaveyougoaway.Onlythinkifanythingshouldhappen?”
Thechildhad