ionandfriend.Hecameinwitheagerness,appearedtoseeandthinkonlyofher,apologisedforhisstay,wasgrievedtohavekeptherwaiting,andanxioustogetherawaywithoutfurtherlossoftimeandbeforetherainincreasedandinanothermomenttheywalkedofftogether,herarmunderhis,agentleandembarrassedglance,anda“Goodmorningtoyou!”beingallthatshehadtimefor,asshepassedaway.
Assoonastheywereoutofsight,theladiesofCaptainWentworth’spartybegantalkingofthem.
“MrElliotdoesnotdislikehiscousin,Ifancy?”
“Oh!no,thatisclearenough.Onecanguesswhatwillhappenthere.Heisalwayswiththemhalflivesinthefamily,Ibelieve.Whataverygood-lookingman!”
“Yes,andMissAtkinson,whodinedwithhimonceattheWallises,saysheisthemostagreeablemansheeverwasincompanywith.”
“Sheispretty,IthinkAnneElliotverypretty,whenonecomestolookather.Itisnotthefashiontosayso,butIconfessIadmirehermorethanhersister.”
“Oh!sodoI.”
“AndsodoI.Nocomparison.ButthemenareallwildafterMissElliot.Anneistoodelicateforthem.”
Annewouldhavebeenparticularlyobligedtohercousin,ifhewouldhavewalkedbyhersideallthewaytoCamdenPlace,withoutsayingaword.Shehadneverfounditsodifficulttolistentohim,thoughnothingcouldexceedhissolicitudeandcare,andthoughhissubjectswereprincipallysuchaswerewonttobealwaysinteresting:praise,warm,just,anddiscriminating,ofLadyRussell,andinsinuationshighlyrationalagainstMrsClay.ButjustnowshecouldthinkonlyofCaptainWentworth.Shecouldnotunderstandhispresentfeelings,whetherhewerereallysufferingmuchfromdisappointmentornotandtillthatpointweresettled,shecouldnotbequiteherself.
Shehopedtobewiseandreasonableintimebutalas!alas!shemustconfesstoherselfthatshewasnotwiseyet.
Anothercircumstanceveryessentialforhertoknow,washowlonghemeanttobeinBathhehadnotmentionedit,orshecouldnotrecollectit.Hemightbeonlypassingthrough.Butitwasmoreprobablethatheshouldbecometostay.Inthatcase,soliableaseverybo