beat.Weaskedhimtocomehomewithusforadayortwo:Charlesundertooktogivehimsomeshooting,andheseemedquitedelighted,and,formypart,Ithoughtitwasallsettledwhenbehold!onTuesdaynight,hemadeaveryawkwardsortofexcuse‘henevershot’andhehad‘beenquitemisunderstood,’andhehadpromisedthisandhehadpromisedthat,andtheendofitwas,Ifound,thathedidnotmeantocome.IsupposehewasafraidoffindingitdullbutuponmywordIshouldhavethoughtwewerelivelyenoughattheCottageforsuchaheart-brokenmanasCaptainBenwick.”
Charleslaughedagainandsaid,“NowMary,youknowverywellhowitreallywas.Itwasallyourdoing,”(turningtoAnne.)“Hefanciedthatifhewentwithus,heshouldfindyoucloseby:hefanciedeverybodytobelivinginUppercrossandwhenhediscoveredthatLadyRusselllivedthreemilesoff,hisheartfailedhim,andhehadnotcouragetocome.Thatisthefact,uponmyhonour.Maryknowsitis.”
ButMarydidnotgiveintoitverygraciously,whetherfromnotconsideringCaptainBenwickentitledbybirthandsituationtobeinlovewithanElliot,orfromnotwantingtobelieveAnneagreaterattractiontoUppercrossthanherself,mustbelefttobeguessed.Anne’sgood-will,however,wasnottobelessenedbywhatsheheard.Sheboldlyacknowledgedherselfflattered,andcontinuedherenquiries.
“Oh!hetalksofyou,”criedCharles,“insuchterms—”Maryinterruptedhim.“Ideclare,Charles,IneverheardhimmentionAnnetwiceallthetimeIwasthere.Ideclare,Anne,henevertalksofyouatall.”
“No,”admittedCharles,“Idonotknowthatheeverdoes,inageneralwaybuthowever,itisaveryclearthingthatheadmiresyouexceedingly.Hisheadisfullofsomebooksthatheisreadinguponyourrecommendation,andhewantstotalktoyouaboutthemhehasfoundoutsomethingorotherinoneofthemwhichhethinks—oh!Icannotpretendtorememberit,butitwassomethingveryfine—IoverheardhimtellingHenriettaallaboutitandthen‘MissElliot’wasspokenofinthehighestterms!NowMary,Ideclareitwasso,Ihearditmyself,andyouwereintheotherroom.‘Elegance,sweetness,beauty.’Oh!therewasnoendofMissElliot’scharms.”
“AndIamsure,”criedMary,warmly,“itwasaverylittle