eansweredalready,thatnothingwasfoundamissthoughitsbeing“soentirelyoutofseason,”andthe“nothoroughfareofLyme,”andthe“noexpectationofcompany,”hadbroughtmanyapologiesfromtheheadsoftheinn.
AnnefoundherselfbythistimegrowingsomuchmorehardenedtobeinginCaptainWentworth’scompanythanshehadatfirstimaginedcouldeverbe,thatthesittingdowntothesametablewithhimnow,andtheinterchangeofthecommoncivilitiesattendingonit(theynevergotbeyond),wasbecomeamerenothing.
Thenightsweretoodarkfortheladiestomeetagaintillthemorrow,butCaptainHarvillehadpromisedthemavisitintheeveningandhecame,bringinghisfriendalso,whichwasmorethanhadbeenexpected,ithavingbeenagreedthatCaptainBenwickhadalltheappearanceofbeingoppressedbythepresenceofsomanystrangers.Heventuredamongthemagain,however,thoughhisspiritscertainlydidnotseemfitforthemirthofthepartyingeneral.
WhileCaptainsWentworthandHarvilleledthetalkononesideoftheroom,andbyrecurringtoformerdays,suppliedanecdotesinabundancetooccupyandentertaintheothers,itfelltoAnne’slottobeplacedratherapartwithCaptainBenwickandaverygoodimpulseofhernatureobligedhertobeginanacquaintancewithhim.Hewasshy,anddisposedtoabstractionbuttheengagingmildnessofhercountenance,andgentlenessofhermanners,soonhadtheireffectandAnnewaswellrepaidthefirsttroubleofexertion.Hewasevidentlyayoungmanofconsiderabletasteinreading,thoughprincipallyinpoetryandbesidesthepersuasionofhavinggivenhimatleastanevening’sindulgenceinthediscussionofsubjects,whichhisusualcompanionshadprobablynoconcernin,shehadthehopeofbeingofrealusetohiminsomesuggestionsastothedutyandbenefitofstrugglingagainstaffliction,whichhadnaturallygrownoutoftheirconversation.For,thoughshy,hedidnotseemreservedithadrathertheappearanceoffeelingsgladtobursttheirusualrestraintsandhavingtalkedofpoetry,therichnessofthepresentage,andgonethroughabriefcompar