OnedayonlyhadpassedsinceAnne’sconversationwithMrsSmithbutakeenerinteresthadsucceeded,andshewasnowsolittletouchedbyMrElliot’sconduct,exceptbyitseffectsinonequarter,thatitbecameamatterofcoursethenextmorning,stilltodeferherexplanatoryvisitinRiversStreet.ShehadpromisedtobewiththeMusgrovesfrombreakfasttodinner.Herfaithwasplighted,andMrElliot’scharacter,liketheSultanessScheherazade’shead,mustliveanotherday.
Shecouldnotkeepherappointmentpunctually,howevertheweatherwasunfavourable,andshehadgrievedovertherainonherfriends’account,andfeltitverymuchonherown,beforeshewasabletoattemptthewalk.WhenshereachedtheWhiteHart,andmadeherwaytotheproperapartment,shefoundherselfneitherarrivingquiteintime,northefirsttoarrive.Thepartybeforeherwere,MrsMusgrove,talkingtoMrsCroft,andCaptainHarvilletoCaptainWentworthandsheimmediatelyheardthatMaryandHenrietta,tooimpatienttowait,hadgoneoutthemomentithadcleared,butwouldbebackagainsoon,andthatthestrictestinjunctionshadbeenleftwithMrsMusgrovetokeephertheretilltheyreturned.Shehadonlytosubmit,sitdown,beoutwardlycomposed,andfeelherselfplungedatonceinalltheagitationswhichshehadmerelylaidheraccountoftastingalittlebeforethemorningclosed.Therewasnodelay,nowasteoftime.Shewasdeepinthehappinessofsuchmisery,orthemiseryofsuchhappiness,instantly.Twominutesafterherenteringtheroom,CaptainWentworthsaid—
“Wewillwritetheletterweweretalkingof,Harville,now,ifyouwillgivemematerials.”
Materialswereathand,onaseparatetablehewenttoit,andnearlyturninghisbacktothemall,wasengrossedbywriting.
MrsMusgrovewasgivingMrsCroftthehistoryofhereldestdaughter’sengagement,andjustinthatinconvenienttoneofvoicewhichwasperfectlyaudiblewhileitpretendedtobeawhisper.Annefeltthatshedidnotbelongtotheconversation,andyet,asCaptainHarvilleseemedthoughtfulandnotdisposedtotalk,shecouldnotavoidhearingmanyundesirableparticularssuchas,“howMrMusgroveandmybrotherHayterhadmetagainandagaintotalkitoverwhatmybrotherHayterhadsaidoneday,andwhatMrMusgrovehadproposedthenext,andwhathadoccurredtomysisterHayter,andwhattheyoungpeoplehadwished,andwhatIsaidatfirstInevercouldconsentto,butwasafterwardspersuadedtothinkmightdoverywell,”andagreatdealinthesamestyleofopen-heartedcommunication:minutiaewhich,evenwitheveryadvantageoftasteanddelicacy,whichgoodMrsMusgrovecouldnotgive,couldbeproperlyinterestingonlytotheprincipals.MrsCroftwasattendingwithgreatgood-humour,andwhenevershespokeatall,itwasverysensibly.Annehopedthegentlemenmighteachbetoomuchself-occupiedtohear.
“Andso,ma’am,allthesethingconsidered,”saidMrsMusgrove,inherpowerfulwhisper,“thoughwecouldhavewisheditdifferent,yet,altogether,wedidnotthinkitfairtostandoutanylonger,forCharlesHayterwasquitewildaboutit,andHenriettawasprettynearasbadandsowethoughttheyhadbettermarryatonce,andmakethebestofit,asmanyothershavedonebeforethem.Atanyrate,saidI,itwillbebetterthanalongengagement.”
“ThatispreciselywhatIwasgoingtoobserve,”criedMrsCroft.“Iwouldratherhaveyoungpeoplesettleonasmallincomeatonce,andhavetostrugglewithafewdifficultiestogether,thanbeinvolved