companion.ShesawMrsClayfairlyoff,therefore,beforeshebegantotalkofspendingthemorninginRiversStreet.
“Verywell,”saidElizabeth,“Ihavenothingtosendbutmylove.Oh!youmayaswelltakebackthattiresomebookshewouldlendme,andpretendIhavereaditthrough.Ireallycannotbeplaguingmyselfforeverwithallthenewpoemsandstatesofthenationthatcomeout.LadyRussellquiteboresonewithhernewpublications.Youneednottellherso,butIthoughtherdresshideoustheothernight.Iusedtothinkshehadsometasteindress,butIwasashamedofherattheconcert.Somethingsoformalandarrangéinherair!andshesitssoupright!Mybestlove,ofcourse.”
“Andmine,”addedSirWalter.“Kindestregards.Andyoumaysay,thatImeantocalluponhersoon.MakeacivilmessagebutIshallonlyleavemycard.Morningvisitsareneverfairbywomenathertimeoflife,whomakethemselvesupsolittle.IfshewouldonlywearrougeshewouldnotbeafraidofbeingseenbutlasttimeIcalled,Iobservedtheblindswereletdownimmediately.”
Whileherfatherspoke,therewasaknockatthedoor.Whocoulditbe?Anne,rememberingthepreconcertedvisits,atallhours,ofMrElliot,wouldhaveexpectedhim,butforhisknownengagementsevenmilesoff.Aftertheusualperiodofsuspense,theusualsoundsofapproachwereheard,and“MrandMrsCharlesMusgrove”wereusheredintotheroom.
SurprisewasthestrongestemotionraisedbytheirappearancebutAnnewasreallygladtoseethemandtheotherswerenotsosorrybutthattheycouldputonadecentairofwelcomeandassoonasitbecameclearthatthese,theirnearestrelations,werenotarrivedwithanyviewsofaccommodationinthathouse,SirWalterandElizabethwereabletoriseincordiality,anddothehonoursofitverywell.TheywerecometoBathforafewdayswithMrsMusgrove,andwereattheWhiteHart.SomuchwasprettysoonunderstoodbuttillSirWalterandElizabethwerewalkingMaryintotheotherdrawing-room,andregalingthemselveswithheradmiration,AnnecouldnotdrawuponCharles’sbrainforaregularhistoryoftheircoming,oranexplanationofsomesmilinghintsofparticularbusiness,whichhadbeenostentatiouslydroppedbyMary,aswellasofsomeapparentconfusionastowhomtheirpartyconsistedof.
ShethenfoundthatitconsistedofMrsMusgrove,Henrietta,andCaptainHarville,besidetheirtwoselves.Hegaveheraveryplain,intelligibleaccountofthewholeanarrationinwhichshesawagreatdealofmostcharacteristicproceeding.TheschemehadreceiveditsfirstimpulsebyCaptainHarville’swantingtocometoBathonbusiness.Hehadbeguntotalkofitaweekagoandbywayofdoingsomething,asshootingwasover,Charleshadproposedcomingwithhim,andMrsHarvillehadseemedtoliketheideaofitverymuch,asanadvantagetoherhusbandbutMarycouldnotbeartobeleft,andhadmadeherselfsounhappyaboutit,thatforadayortwoeverythingseemedtobeinsuspense,oratanend.Butthen,ithadbeentakenupbyhisfatherandmother.HismotherhadsomeoldfriendsinBathwhomshewantedtoseeitwasthoughtagoodopportunityforHenriettatocomeandbuywedding-cl