tantlyfeltthatshewasthegreatestsimpletonintheworld,themostunaccountableandabsurd!Forafewminutesshesawnothingbeforeheritwasallconfusion.Shewaslost,andwhenshehadscoldedbackhersenses,shefoundtheothersstillwaitingforthecarriage,andMrElliot(alwaysobliging)justsettingoffforUnionStreetonacommissionofMrsClay’s.
Shenowfeltagreatinclinationtogototheouterdoorshewantedtoseeifitrained.Whywasshetosuspectherselfofanothermotive?CaptainWentworthmustbeoutofsight.Sheleftherseat,shewouldgoonehalfofhershouldnotbealwayssomuchwiserthantheotherhalf,oralwayssuspectingtheotherofbeingworsethanitwas.Shewouldseeifitrained.Shewassentback,however,inamomentbytheentranceofCaptainWentworthhimself,amongapartyofgentlemenandladies,evidentlyhisacquaintance,andwhomhemusthavejoinedalittlebelowMilsomStreet.Hewasmoreobviouslystruckandconfusedbythesightofherthanshehadeverobservedbeforehelookedquitered.Forthefirsttime,sincetheirrenewedacquaintance,shefeltthatshewasbetrayingtheleastsensibilityofthetwo.Shehadtheadvantageofhiminthepreparationofthelastfewmoments.Alltheoverpowering,blinding,bewildering,firsteffectsofstrongsurprisewereoverwithher.Still,however,shehadenoughtofeel!Itwasagitation,pain,pleasure,asomethingbetweendelightandmisery.
Hespoketoher,andthenturnedaway.Thecharacterofhismannerwasembarrassment.Shecouldnothavecallediteithercoldorfriendly,oranythingsocertainlyasembarrassed.
Afterashortinterval,however,hecametowardsher,andspokeagain.Mutualenquiriesoncommonsubjectspassed:neitherofthem,probably,muchthewiserforwhattheyheard,andAnnecontinuingfullysensibleofhisbeinglessateasethanformerly.Theyhadbydintofbeingsoverymuchtogether,gottospeaktoeachotherwithaconsiderableportionofapparentindifferenceandcalmnessbuthecouldnotdoitnow.Timehadchangedhim,orLouisahadchangedhim.Therewasconsciousnessofsomesortorother.Helookedverywell,notasifhehadbee