TherewasonepointwhichAnne,onreturningtoherfamily,wouldhavebeenmorethankfultoascertaineventhanMrElliot’sbeinginlovewithElizabeth,whichwas,herfather’snotbeinginlovewithMrsClayandshewasveryfarfromeasyaboutit,whenshehadbeenathomeafewhours.Ongoingdowntobreakfastthenextmorning,shefoundtherehadjustbeenadecentpretenceonthelady’ssideofmeaningtoleavethem.ShecouldimagineMrsClaytohavesaid,that“nowMissAnnewascome,shecouldnotsupposeherselfatallwanted”forElizabethwasreplyinginasortofwhisper,“Thatmustnotbeanyreason,indeed.IassureyouIfeelitnone.Sheisnothingtome,comparedwithyou”andshewasinfulltimetohearherfathersay,“Mydearmadam,thismustnotbe.Asyet,youhaveseennothingofBath.Youhavebeenhereonlytobeuseful.Youmustnotrunawayfromusnow.YoumuststaytobeacquaintedwithMrsWallis,thebeautifulMrsWallis.Toyourfinemind,Iwellknowthesightofbeautyisarealgratification.”
Hespokeandlookedsomuchinearnest,thatAnnewasnotsurprisedtoseeMrsClaystealingaglanceatElizabethandherself.Hercountenance,perhaps,mightexpresssomewatchfulnessbutthepraiseofthefineminddidnotappeartoexciteathoughtinhersister.Theladycouldnotbutyieldtosuchjointentreaties,andpromisetostay.
Inthecourseofthesamemorning,Anneandherfatherchancingtobealonetogether,hebegantocomplimentheronherimprovedlookshethoughther“lessthininherperson,inhercheeksherskin,hercomplexion,greatlyimprovedclearer,fresher.Hadshebeenusinganythinginparticular?”“No,nothing.”“MerelyGowland,”hesupposed.“No,nothingatall.”“Ha!hewassurprisedatthat”andadded,“certainlyyoucannotdobetterthantocontinueasyouareyoucannotbebetterthanwellorIshouldrecommendGowland,theconstantuseofGowland,duringthespringmonths.MrsClayhasbeenusingitatmyrecommendation,andyouseewhatithasdoneforher.Youseehowithascarriedawayherfreckles.”
IfElizabethcouldbuthaveheardthis!Suchpersonalpraisemighthavestruckher,especiallyasitdidnotappeartoAnnethatthefreckleswereatalllessened.Butevery