nsufferinginhealthorspirits,andhetalkedofUppercross,oftheMusgroves,nay,evenofLouisa,andhadevenamomentarylookofhisownarchsignificanceashenamedherbutyetitwasCaptainWentworthnotcomfortable,noteasy,notabletofeignthathewas.
Itdidnotsurprise,butitgrievedAnnetoobservethatElizabethwouldnotknowhim.ShesawthathesawElizabeth,thatElizabethsawhim,thattherewascompleteinternalrecognitiononeachsideshewasconvincedthathewasreadytobeacknowledgedasanacquaintance,expectingit,andshehadthepainofseeinghersisterturnawaywithunalterablecoldness.
LadyDalrymple’scarriage,forwhichMissElliotwasgrowingveryimpatient,nowdrewuptheservantcameintoannounceit.Itwasbeginningtorainagain,andaltogethertherewasadelay,andabustle,andatalking,whichmustmakeallthelittlecrowdintheshopunderstandthatLadyDalrymplewascallingtoconveyMissElliot.AtlastMissElliotandherfriend,unattendedbutbytheservant,(fortherewasnocousinreturned),werewalkingoffandCaptainWentworth,watchingthem,turnedagaintoAnne,andbymanner,ratherthanwords,wasofferinghisservicestoher.
“Iammuchobligedtoyou,”washeranswer,“butIamnotgoingwiththem.Thecarriagewouldnotaccommodatesomany.Iwalk:Ipreferwalking.”
“Butitrains.”
“Oh!verylittle,NothingthatIregard.”
Afteramoment’spausehesaid:“ThoughIcameonlyyesterday,IhaveequippedmyselfproperlyforBathalready,yousee,”(pointingtoanewumbrella)“Iwishyouwouldmakeuseofit,ifyouaredeterminedtowalkthoughIthinkitwouldbemoreprudenttoletmegetyouachair.”
Shewasverymuchobligedtohim,butdeclineditall,repeatingherconviction,thattherainwouldcometonothingatpresent,andadding,“IamonlywaitingforMrElliot.Hewillbehereinamoment,Iamsure.”
ShehadhardlyspokenthewordswhenMrElliotwalkedin.CaptainWentworthrecollectedhimperfectly.TherewasnodifferencebetweenhimandthemanwhohadstoodonthestepsatLyme,admiringAnneasshepassed,exceptintheairandlookandmanneroftheprivilegedrelat