fewminutesafterwards,shefeltasiftheirbeingincompanywitheachother,undertheirpresentcircumstances,couldonlybeexposingthemtoinadvertenciesandmisconstructionsofthemostmischievouskind.
“Anne,”criedMary,stillatherwindow,“thereisMrsClay,Iamsure,standingunderthecolonnade,andagentlemanwithher.IsawthemturnthecornerfromBathStreetjustnow.Theyseemeddeepintalk.Whoisit?Come,andtellme.Goodheavens!Irecollect.ItisMrElliothimself.”
“No,”criedAnne,quickly,“itcannotbeMrElliot,Iassureyou.HewastoleaveBathatninethismorning,anddoesnotcomebacktillto-morrow.”
Asshespoke,shefeltthatCaptainWentworthwaslookingather,theconsciousnessofwhichvexedandembarrassedher,andmadeherregretthatshehadsaidsomuch,simpleasitwas.
Mary,resentingthatsheshouldbesupposednottoknowherowncousin,begantalkingverywarmlyaboutthefamilyfeatures,andprotestingstillmorepositivelythatitwasMrElliot,callingagainuponAnnetocomeandlookforherself,butAnnedidnotmeantostir,andtriedtobecoolandunconcerned.Herdistressreturned,however,onperceivingsmilesandintelligentglancespassbetweentwoorthreeoftheladyvisitors,asiftheybelievedthemselvesquiteinthesecret.Itwasevidentthatthereportconcerningherhadspread,andashortpausesucceeded,whichseemedtoensurethatitwouldnowspreadfarther.
“Docome,Anne,”criedMary,“comeandlookyourself.Youwillbetoolateifyoudonotmakehaste.Theyarepartingtheyareshakinghands.Heisturningaway.NotknowMrElliot,indeed!YouseemtohaveforgotallaboutLyme.”
TopacifyMary,andperhapsscreenherownembarrassment,Annedidmovequietlytothewindow.ShewasjustintimetoascertainthatitreallywasMrElliot,whichshehadneverbelieved,beforehedisappearedononeside,asMrsClaywalkedquicklyoffontheotherandcheckingthesurprisewhichshecouldnotbutfeelatsuchanappearanceoffriendlyconferencebetweentwopersonsoftotallyoppositeinterest,shecalmlysaid,“Yes,itisMrElliot,certainly.Hehaschangedhishourofgoing,Isuppose,thatisall,orImaybemistaken,Imightnotattend”andwalkedbacktoherchair,recomposed,andwiththecomfortablehopeofhavingacquittedherselfwell.
ThevisitorstooktheirleaveandCharles,havingcivillyseenthemoff,andthenmadeafaceatthem,andabusedthemforcoming,beganwith—
“Well,mother,Ihavedonesomethingforyouthatyouwilllike.Ihavebeentothetheatre,andsecuredaboxforto-morrownight.A’n’tIagoodboy?Iknowyouloveaplayandthereisroomforusall.Itholdsnine.IhaveengagedCaptainWentworth.Annewillnotbesorrytojoinus,Iamsure.Wealllikeaplay.HavenotIdonewell,mother?”
MrsMusgrovewasgoodhumouredlybeginningtoexpressherperfectreadinessfortheplay,ifHenriettaandalltheotherslikedit,whenMaryeagerlyinterruptedherbyexclaiming—
“Goodheavens,Charles!howcanyouthinkofsuchathing?Takeaboxforto-morrownight!HaveyouforgotthatweareengagedtoCamdenPlaceto-morrownight?andthatweweremostparticularlyaske