receivedamoregratifyingattention.MissElliotwastohavethehonourofcallingonMrsMusgroveinthecourseofthemorningandAnnewalkedoffwithCharlesandMary,togoandseeherandHenriettadirectly.
HerplanofsittingwithLadyRussellmustgivewayforthepresent.TheyallthreecalledinRiversStreetforacoupleofminutesbutAnneconvincedherselfthataday’sdelayoftheintendedcommunicationcouldbeofnoconsequence,andhastenedforwardtotheWhiteHart,toseeagainthefriendsandcompanionsofthelastautumn,withaneagernessofgood-willwhichmanyassociationscontributedtoform.
TheyfoundMrsMusgroveandherdaughterwithin,andbythemselves,andAnnehadthekindestwelcomefromeach.Henriettawasexactlyinthatstateofrecently-improvedviews,offresh-formedhappiness,whichmadeherfullofregardandinterestforeverybodyshehadeverlikedbeforeatallandMrsMusgrove’srealaffectionhadbeenwonbyherusefulnesswhentheywereindistress.Itwasaheartiness,andawarmth,andasinceritywhichAnnedelightedinthemore,fromthesadwantofsuchblessingsathome.Shewasentreatedtogivethemasmuchofhertimeaspossible,invitedforeverydayandalldaylong,orratherclaimedaspartofthefamilyand,inreturn,shenaturallyfellintoallherwontedwaysofattentionandassistance,andonCharles’sleavingthemtogether,waslisteningtoMrsMusgrove’shistoryofLouisa,andtoHenrietta’sofherself,givingopinionsonbusiness,andrecommendationstoshopswithintervalsofeveryhelpwhichMaryrequired,fromalteringherribbontosettlingheraccountsfromfindingherkeys,andassortinghertrinkets,totryingtoconvinceherthatshewasnotill-usedbyanybodywhichMary,wellamusedasshegenerallywas,inherstationatawindowoverlookingtheentrancetothePumpRoom,couldnotbuthavehermomentsofimagining.
Amorningofthoroughconfusionwastobeexpected.Alargepartyinanhotelensuredaquick-changing,unsettledscene.Onefiveminutesbroughtanote,thenextaparcelandAnnehadnotbeentherehalfanhour,whentheirdining-room,spaciousasitwas,seemedmorethanhalffilled:apartyofsteadyoldfriendswereseatedaroundMrsMusgrove,andCharlescamebackwithCaptainsHarvilleandWentworth.Theappearanceofthelattercouldnotbemorethanthesurpriseofthemoment.Itwasimpossibleforhertohaveforgottentofeelthatthisarrivaloftheircommonfriendsmustbesoonbringingthemtogetheragain.Theirlastmeetinghadbeenmostimportantinopeninghisfeelingsshehadderivedfromitadelightfulconvictionbutshefearedfromhislooks,thatthesameunfortunatepersuasion,whichhadhastenedhimawayfromtheConcertRoom,stillgoverned.Hedidnotseemtowanttobenearenoughforconversation.
Shetriedtobecalm,andleavethingstotaketheircourse,andtriedtodwellmuchonthisargumentofrationaldependence:—“Surely,iftherebeconstantattachmentoneachside,ourheartsmustunderstandeachothererelong.Wearenotboyandgirl,tobecaptiouslyirritable,misledbyeverymoment’sinadvertence,andwantonlyplayingwithourownhappiness.”Andyet,a