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instead。—I suppose you know he wanted to marry Anne？”
After a moment’s pause； Captain Wentworth said；
“Do you mean that she refused him？”
“Oh！ yes； certainly。”
“When did that happen？”
“I do not exactly know； for Henrietta and I were at school at the
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time； but I believe about a year before he married Mary。 I wish she
had accepted him。 We should all have liked her a great deal better；
and papa and mamma always think it was her great friend Lady
Russell’s doing； that she did not。—They think Charles might not
be learned and bookish enough to please Lady Russell； and that
therefore； she persuaded Anne to refuse him。”
The sounds were retreating； and Anne distinguished no more。
Her own emotions still kept her fixed。 She had much to recover
from； before she could move。 The listener’s proverbial fate was not
absolutely hers； she had heard no evil of herself；—but she had
heard a great deal of very painful import。 She saw how her own
character was considered by Captain Wentworth； and there had
been just that degree of feeling and curiosity about her in his
manner which must give her extreme agitation。
As soon as she could； she went after Mary； and having found；
and walked back with her to their former station； by the stile； felt
some comfort in their whole party being immediately afterwards
collected； and once more in motion together。 Her spirits wanted
the solitude and silence which only numbers could give。
Charles and Henrietta returned； bringing； as may be
conjectured； Charles Hayter with them。 The minutiae of the
business Anne could not attempt to understand； even Captain
Wentworth did not seem admitted to perfect confidence here； but
that there had been a withdrawing on the gentleman’s side； and a
relenting on the lady’s； and that they were now very glad to be
together again； did not admit a doubt。 Henrietta looked a little
ashamed； but very well pleased；—Charles Hayter exceedingly
happy： and they were devoted to each other almost from the first
instant of their all setting forward for Uppercross。
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Everything now marked out Louisa for Captain Wentworth；
nothing could be plainer； and where many divisions were
necessary； or even where they were not； they walked side by side
nearly as much as the other two。 In a long strip of meadow…land；
where there was ample space for all； they were thus divided—
forming three distinct parties； and to that party of the three which
boasted least animation； and least complaisance； Anne necessarily
belonged。 She joined Charles and Mary； and was tired enough to
be very glad of Charles’s other arm；—but Charles； though in very
good humour with her； was out of temper with his wife。 Mary had
shewn herself disobliging to him； and was now to reap the
consequence； which consequence was his dropping her arm
almost every moment to cut off the heads of some nettles in the
hedge with his switch； and when Mary began to complain of it； and
lament her being ill…used； according to custom； in being on the
hedge side； while Anne was never incommoded on the other； he
dropped the arms of both to hunt after a weasel which he had a
momentary glance of； and they could hardly get him along at all。
This long meadow bordered a lane； which their footpath； at the
end of it was to cross； and when the party had all reached the gate
of exit； the carriage advancing in the same direction； which had
been some time heard； was just coming up； and proved to be
Admiral Croft’s gig。—He and his wife had taken their intended
drive； and were returning home。 Upon hearing how long a walk
the young people had engaged in； they kindly offered a seat to any
lady who might be particularly tired； it would save her a full mile；
and they were going through Uppercross。 The invitation was
general； and generally declined。 The Miss Musgroves were not at
all tired； and Mary was either offended； by not being asked before
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any of the others； or what Louisa called the Elliot pride could not
endure to make a third in a one horse chaise。
The walking party had crossed the lane； and were surmounting
an opposite stile； and the Admiral was putting his horse in motion
again； when Captain Wentworth cleared the hedge in a moment to
say something to his sister。 The something might be guessed by its
effects。
“Miss Elliot； I am sure you are tired；” cried Mrs。 Croft。 “Do let
us have the pleasure of taking you home。 Here is excellent room
for three； I assure you。 If we were all like you； I believe we might
sit four。—You must； indeed； you must。”
Anne was still in the lane； and though instinctively beginning to
decline； she was not allowed to proceed。 The Admiral’s kind
urgency came in support of his wife’s； they would not be refused；
they compressed themselves into the smallest possible space to
leave her a corner； and Captain Wentworth； without saying a
word； turned to her； and quietly obliged her to be assisted into the
carriage。
Yes；—he had done it。 She was in the carriage； and felt that he
had placed her there； that his will and his hands had done it； that
she owed it to his perception of her fatigue； and his resolution to
give her rest。 She was very much affected by the view of his
disposition towards her； which all these things made apparent。
This little circumstance seemed the completion of all that had
gone before。 She understood him。 He could not forgive her；—but
he could not be unfeeling。 Though condemning her for the past；
and considering i