do.Yourcountenanceperfectlyinformsmethatyouwereincompanylastnightwiththepersonwhomyouthinkthemostagreeableintheworld,thepersonwhointerestsyouatthispresenttimemorethanalltherestoftheworldputtogether.”
AblushoverspreadAnne’scheeks.Shecouldsaynothing.
“Andsuchbeingthecase,”continuedMrsSmith,afterashortpause,“IhopeyoubelievethatIdoknowhowtovalueyourkindnessincomingtomethismorning.Itisreallyverygoodofyoutocomeandsitwithme,whenyoumusthavesomanypleasanterdemandsuponyourtime.”
Anneheardnothingofthis.Shewasstillintheastonishmentandconfusionexcitedbyherfriend’spenetration,unabletoimaginehowanyreportofCaptainWentworthcouldhavereachedher.Afteranothershortsilence—
“Pray,”saidMrsSmith,“isMrElliotawareofyouracquaintancewithme?DoesheknowthatIaminBath?”
“MrElliot!”repeatedAnne,lookingupsurprised.Amoment’sreflectionshewedherthemistakeshehadbeenunder.Shecaughtitinstantaneouslyandrecoveringhercouragewiththefeelingofsafety,soonadded,morecomposedly,“AreyouacquaintedwithMrElliot?”
“Ihavebeenagooddealacquaintedwithhim,”repliedMrsSmith,gravely,“butitseemswornoutnow.Itisagreatwhilesincewemet.”
“Iwasnotatallawareofthis.Younevermentioneditbefore.HadIknownit,Iwouldhavehadthepleasureoftalkingtohimaboutyou.”
“Toconfessthetruth,”saidMrsSmith,assumingherusualairofcheerfulness,“thatisexactlythepleasureIwantyoutohave.IwantyoutotalkaboutmetoMrElliot.Iwantyourinterestwithhim.Hecanbeofessentialservicetomeandifyouwouldhavethegoodness,mydearMissElliot,tomakeitanobjecttoyourself,ofcourseitisdone.”
“IshouldbeextremelyhappyIhopeyoucannotdoubtmywillingnesstobeofeventheslightestusetoyou,”repliedAnne“butIsuspectthatyouareconsideringmeashavingahigherclaimonMrElliot,agreaterrighttoinfluencehim,thanisreallythecase.Iamsureyouhave,somehoworother,imbibedsuchanotion.YoumustconsidermeonlyasMrElliot’srelation.Ifinthatlightthereisanythingwhichyousupposehiscousinmightfairlyaskofhim,Ibegyouwouldnothesitatetoemployme.”
MrsSmithgaveherapenetratingglance,andthen,smiling,said—
“Ihavebeenalittlepremature,IperceiveIbegyourpardon.Ioughttohavewaitedforofficialinformation.Butnow,mydearMissElliot,asanoldfriend,dogivemeahintastowhenImayspeak.Nextweek?TobesurebynextweekImaybeallowedtothinkitallsettled,andbuildmyownselfishschemesonMrElliot’sgoodfortune.”
“No,”repliedAnne,“nornextweek,nornext,nornext.Iassureyouthatnothingofthesortyouarethinkingofwillbesettledanyweek.IamnotgoingtomarryMrElliot.IshouldliketoknowwhyyouimagineIam?”
MrsSmithlookedatheragain,lookedearnestly,smiled,shookherhead,andexclaimed—
“Now,howIdowishIunderstoodyou!HowIdowishIknewwhatyouwereat!Ihaveagreatideathatyoudonotdesigntobecruel,whentherightmomentoccurs.Tillitdoescome,youknow,wewomennevermeantohaveanybody.Itisathingofcourseamongus,thateverymanisrefused,tillheoffers.Butwhyshouldyoubecruel?Letmepleadformy—presentfriendIcannotcallhim,butformyformerfriend.Wherecanyoulookforamoresuitablematch?Wherecouldyouexpectamoregentlemanlike,agreeableman?LetmerecommendMrElliot.IamsureyouhearnothingbutgoodofhimfromColonelWallisandwhocanknowhimbetterthanColonelWallis?”
“MydearMrsSmith,MrElliot’swifehasnotbeendeadmuchabovehalfayear.Heoughtnotto