AnnerecollectedwithpleasurethenextmorningherpromiseofgoingtoMrsSmith,meaningthatitshouldengageherfromhomeatthetimewhenMrElliotwouldbemostlikelytocallfortoavoidMrElliotwasalmostafirstobject.
Shefeltagreatdealofgood-willtowardshim.Inspiteofthemischiefofhisattentions,sheowedhimgratitudeandregard,perhapscompassion.Shecouldnothelpthinkingmuchoftheextraordinarycircumstancesattendingtheiracquaintance,oftherightwhichheseemedtohavetointeresther,byeverythinginsituation,byhisownsentiments,byhisearlyprepossession.Itwasaltogetherveryextraordinaryflattering,butpainful.Therewasmuchtoregret.HowshemighthavefelthadtherebeennoCaptainWentworthinthecase,wasnotworthenquiryfortherewasaCaptainWentworthandbetheconclusionofthepresentsuspensegoodorbad,heraffectionwouldbehisforever.Theirunion,shebelieved,couldnotdividehermorefromothermen,thantheirfinalseparation.
Prettiermusingsofhigh-wroughtloveandeternalconstancy,couldneverhavepassedalongthestreetsofBath,thanAnnewassportingwithfromCamdenPlacetoWestgateBuildings.Itwasalmostenoughtospreadpurificationandperfumealltheway.
Shewassureofapleasantreceptionandherfriendseemedthismorningparticularlyobligedtoherforcoming,seemedhardlytohaveexpectedher,thoughithadbeenanappointment.
AnaccountoftheconcertwasimmediatelyclaimedandAnne’srecollectionsoftheconcertwerequitehappyenoughtoanimateherfeaturesandmakeherrejoicetotalkofit.Allthatshecouldtellshetoldmostgladly,buttheallwaslittleforonewhohadbeenthere,andunsatisfactoryforsuchanenquirerasMrsSmith,whohadalreadyheard,throughtheshortcutofalaundressandawaiter,rathermoreofthegeneralsuccessandproduceoftheeveningthanAnnecouldrelate,andwhonowaskedinvainforseveralparticularsofthecompany.EverybodyofanyconsequenceornotorietyinBathwaswellknowbynametoMrsSmith.
“ThelittleDurandswerethere,Iconclude,”saidshe,“withtheirmouthsopentocatchthemusic,likeunfledgedsparrowsreadytobefed.Theynevermissaconcert.”
“YesIdidnotseethemmyself,butIheardMrElliotsaytheywereintheroom.”
“TheIbbotsons,weretheythere?andthetwonewbeauties,withthetallIrishofficer,whoistalkedofforoneofthem.”
“Idonotknow.Idonotthinktheywere.”
“OldLadyMaryMaclean?Ineednotaskafterher.Shenevermisses,Iknowandyoumusthaveseenher.ShemusthavebeeninyourowncircleforasyouwentwithLadyDalrymple,youwereintheseatsofgrandeur,roundtheorchestra,ofcourse.”
“No,thatwaswhatIdreaded.Itwouldhavebeenveryunpleasanttomeineveryrespect.ButhappilyLadyDalrymplealwayschoosestobefartheroffandwewereexceedinglywellplaced,thatis,forhearingImustnotsayforseeing,becauseIappeartohaveseenverylittle.”
“Oh!yousawenoughforyourownamusement.Icanunderstand.Thereisasortofdomesticenjoymenttobeknowneveninacrowd,andthisyouhad.Youwerealargepartyinyourselves,andyouwantednothingbeyond.”
“ButIoughttohavelookedaboutmemore,”saidAnne,consciouswhileshespokethattherehadinfactbeennowantoflookingabout,thattheobjectonlyhadbeendeficient.
“No,noyouwerebetteremployed.Youneednottellmethatyouhadapleasantevening.Iseeitinyoureye.Iperfectlyseehowthehourspassed:thatyouhadalwayssomethingagreeabletolistento.Intheintervalsoftheconcertitwasconversation.”
Annehalfsmiledandsaid,“Doyouseethatinmyeye?”
“Yes,I