eisoldandsickly.Uponmyword,MissAnneElliot,youhavethemostextraordinarytaste!Everythingthatrevoltsotherpeople,lowcompany,paltryrooms,foulair,disgustingassociationsareinvitingtoyou.Butsurelyyoumayputoffthisoldladytillto-morrow:sheisnotsonearherend,Ipresume,butthatshemayhopetoseeanotherday.Whatisherage?Forty?”
“No,sir,sheisnotone-and-thirtybutIdonotthinkIcanputoffmyengagement,becauseitistheonlyeveningforsometimewhichwillatoncesuitherandmyself.Shegoesintothewarmbathto-morrow,andfortherestoftheweek,youknow,weareengaged.”
“ButwhatdoesLadyRussellthinkofthisacquaintance?”askedElizabeth.
“Sheseesnothingtoblameinit,”repliedAnne“onthecontrary,sheapprovesit,andhasgenerallytakenmewhenIhavecalledonMrsSmith.”
“WestgateBuildingsmusthavebeenrathersurprisedbytheappearanceofacarriagedrawnupnearitspavement,”observedSirWalter.“SirHenryRussell’swidow,indeed,hasnohonourstodistinguishherarms,butstillitisahandsomeequipage,andnodoubtiswellknowntoconveyaMissElliot.AwidowMrsSmithlodginginWestgateBuildings!Apoorwidowbarelyabletolive,betweenthirtyandfortyamereMrsSmith,anevery-dayMrsSmith,ofallpeopleandallnamesintheworld,tobethechosenfriendofMissAnneElliot,andtobepreferredbyhertoherownfamilyconnectionsamongthenobilityofEnglandandIreland!MrsSmith!Suchaname!”
MrsClay,whohadbeenpresentwhileallthispassed,nowthoughtitadvisabletoleavetheroom,andAnnecouldhavesaidmuch,anddidlongtosayalittleindefenceofherfriend’snotverydissimilarclaimstotheirs,buthersenseofpersonalrespecttoherfatherpreventedher.Shemadenoreply.Sheleftittohimselftorecollect,thatMrsSmithwasnottheonlywidowinBathbetweenthirtyandforty,withlittletoliveon,andnosurnameofdignity.
Annekeptherappointmenttheotherskepttheirs,andofcoursesheheardthenextmorningthattheyhadhadadelightfulevening.Shehadbeentheonlyoneofthesetabsent,forSirWalterandEl