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feeling less。 Eight years； almost eight years had passed； since all
had been given up。 How absurd to be resuming the agitation
which such an interval had banished into distance and
indistinctness！ What might not eight years do？ Events of every
description； changes； alienations； removals—all； all must be
comprised in it； and oblivion of the past—how natural； how certain
too！ It included nearly a third part of her own life。
Alas！ with all her reasoning； she found； that to retentive feelings
eight years may be little more than nothing。
Now； how were his sentiments to be read？ Was this like wishing
to avoid her？ And the next moment she was hating herself for the
folly which asked the question。
On one other question which perhaps her utmost wisdom might
not have prevented； she was soon spared all suspense； for； after
the Miss Musgroves had returned and finished their visit at the
Cottage she had this spontaneous information from Mary：
“Captain Wentworth is not very gallant by you； Anne； though
he was so attentive to me。 Henrietta asked him what he thought of
you； when they went away； and he said； ‘You were so altered he
should not have known you again。’”
Mary had no feelings to make her respect her sister’s in a
common way； but she was perfectly unsuspicious of being
inflicting any peculiar wound。
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“Altered beyond his knowledge。” Anne fully submitted； in
silent； deep mortification。 Doubtless it was so； and she could take
no revenge； for he was not altered； or not for the worse。 She had
already acknowledged it to herself； and she could not think
differently； let him think of her as he would。 No： the years which
had destroyed her youth and bloom had only given him a more
glowing； manly； open look； in no respect lessening his personal
advantages。 She had seen the same Frederick Wentworth。
“So altered that he should not have known her again！” These
were words which could not but dwell with her。 Yet she soon
began to rejoice that she had heard them。 They were of sobering
tendency； they allayed agitation； they composed； and consequently
must make her happier。
Frederick Wentworth had used such words； or something like
them； but without an idea that they would be carried round to her。
He had thought her wretchedly altered； and in the first moment of
appeal； had spoken as he felt。 He had not forgiven Anne Elliot。 She
had used him ill； deserted and disappointed him； and worse； she
had shewn a feebleness of character in doing so； which his own
decided； confident temper could not endure。 She had given him
up to oblige others。 It had been the effect of over…persuasion。 It
had been weakness and timidity。
He had been most warmly attached to her； and had never seen
a woman since whom he thought her equal； but； except from some
natural sensation of curiosity； he had no desire of meeting her
again。 Her power with him was gone for ever。
It was now his object to marry。 He was rich； and being turned
on shore； fully intended to settle as soon as he could be properly
tempted； actually looking round； ready to fall in love with all the
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speed which a clear head and a quick taste could allow。 He had a
heart for either of the Miss Musgroves； if they could catch it； a
heart； in short； for any pleasing young woman who came in his
way； excepting Anne Elliot。 This was his only secret exception；
when he said to his sister； in answer to her suppositions；
“Yes； here I am； Sophia； quite ready to make a foolish match。
Any body between fifteen and thirty may have me for asking。 A
little beauty； and a few smiles； and a few compliments to the navy；
and I am a lost man。 Should not this be enough for a sailor； who
has had no society among women to make him nice？”
He said it； she knew； to be contradicted。 His bright proud eye
spoke the conviction that he was nice； and Anne Elliot was not out
of his thoughts； when he more seriously described the woman he
should wish to meet with。 “A strong mind； with sweetness of
manner；” made the first and the last of the description。
“That is the woman I want；” said he。 “Something a little inferior
I shall of course put up with； but it must not be much。 If I am a
fool； I shall be a fool indeed； for I have thought on the subject more
than most men。”
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CHAPTER VIII
rom this time Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot were
Frepeatedly in the same circle。 They were soon dining in
company together at Mr。 Musgrove’s； for the little boy’s
state could no longer supply his aunt with a pretence for absenting
herself； and this was but the beginning of other dinings and other
meetings。
Whether former feelings were to be renewed must be brought
to the proof； former times must undoubtedly be brought to the
recollection of each； they could not but be reverted to； the year of
their engagement could not but be named by him； in the little
narratives or descriptions which conversation called forth。 His
profession qualified him； his disposition lead him； to talk； and
“That was in the year six；” “That happened before I went to sea in
the year six；” occurred in the course of the first evening they spent
together： and though his voice did not falter； and though she had
no reason to suppose his eye wandering towards her while he
spoke； Anne felt the utter impossibility； from her knowledge of his
mind； that he could be unvisited by remembrance any more than
herself。 There must be the same immediate association of thought；