nnoisesaswellasinothermattersandsoundsarequiteinnoxious,ormostdistressing,bytheirsortratherthantheirquantity.WhenLadyRussellnotlongafterwards,wasenteringBathonawetafternoon,anddrivingthroughthelongcourseofstreetsfromtheOldBridgetoCamdenPlace,amidstthedashofothercarriages,theheavyrumbleofcartsanddrays,thebawlingofnewspapermen,muffin-menandmilkmen,andtheceaselessclinkofpattens,shemadenocomplaint.No,thesewerenoiseswhichbelongedtothewinterpleasuresherspiritsroseundertheirinfluenceandlikeMrsMusgrove,shewasfeeling,thoughnotsaying,thatafterbeinglonginthecountry,nothingcouldbesogoodforherasalittlequietcheerfulness.
Annedidnotsharethesefeelings.Shepersistedinaverydetermined,thoughverysilentdisinclinationforBathcaughtthefirstdimviewoftheextensivebuildings,smokinginrain,withoutanywishofseeingthembetterfelttheirprogressthroughthestreetstobe,howeverdisagreeable,yettoorapidforwhowouldbegladtoseeherwhenshearrived?Andlookedback,withfondregret,tothebustlesofUppercrossandtheseclusionofKellynch.
Elizabeth’slastletterhadcommunicatedapieceofnewsofsomeinterest.MrElliotwasinBath.HehadcalledinCamdenPlacehadcalledasecondtime,athirdhadbeenpointedlyattentive.IfElizabethandherfatherdidnotdeceivethemselves,hadbeentakingmuchpainstoseektheacquaintance,andproclaimthevalueoftheconnection,ashehadformerlytakenpainstoshewneglect.ThiswasverywonderfulifitweretrueandLadyRussellwasinastateofveryagreeablecuriosityandperplexityaboutMrElliot,alreadyrecantingthesentimentshehadsolatelyexpressedtoMary,ofhisbeing“amanwhomshehadnowishtosee.”Shehadagreatwishtoseehim.Ifhereallysoughttoreconcilehimselflikeadutifulbranch,hemustbeforgivenforhavingdismemberedhimselffromthepaternaltree.
Annewasnotanimatedtoanequalpitchbythecircumstance,butshefeltthatshewouldratherseeMrElliotagainthannot,whichwasmorethanshecouldsayformanyotherpersonsinBath.
ShewasputdowninCamdenPlaceandLadyRussellthendrovetoherownlodgings,inRiversStreet.