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servant to wait； and at first Mrs。 Harville had always given Mrs。
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Musgrove precedence； but then； she had received so very
handsome an apology from her on finding out whose daughter she
was； and there had been so much going on every day； there had
been so many walks between their lodgings and the Harvilles； and
she had got books from the library； and changed them so often；
that the balance had certainly been much in favour of Lyme。 She
had been taken to Charmouth too； and she had bathed； and she
had gone to church； and there were a great many more people to
look at in the church at Lyme than at Uppercross；—and all this；
joined to the sense of being so very useful； had made really an
agreeable fortnight。
Anne enquired after Captain Benwick； Mary’s face was clouded
directly。 Charles laughed。
“Oh！ Captain Benwick is very well； I believe； but he is a very
odd young man。 I do not know what he would be at。 We asked him
to come home with us for a day or two； Charles undertook to give
him some shooting； and he seemed quite delighted； and； for my
part； I thought it was all settled； when behold！ on Tuesday night；
he made a very awkward sort of excuse； ‘he never shot’ and he had
‘been quite misunderstood；’—and he had promised this and he
had promised that； and the end of it was； I found； that he did not
mean to come。 I suppose he was afraid of finding it dull； but upon
my word I should have thought we were lively enough at the
Cottage for such a heart…broken man as Captain Benwick。”
Charles laughed again and said； “Now Mary； you know very
well how it really was。—It was all your doing；” （turning to Anne）。
“He fancied that if he went with us； he should find you close by； he
fancied everybody to be living in Uppercross； and when he
discovered that Lady Russell lived three miles off； his heart failed
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him； and he had not courage to come。 That is the fact； upon my
honour； Mary knows it is。”
But Mary did not give into it very graciously； whether from not
considering Captain Benwick entitled by birth and situation to be
in love with an Elliot； or from not wanting to believe Anne a
greater attraction to Uppercross than herself； must be left to be
guessed。 Anne’s good…will； however； was not to be lessened by
what she heard。 She boldly acknowledged herself flattered； and
continued her enquiries。
“Oh！ he talks of you；” cried Charles； “in such terms”—Mary
interrupted him。 “I declare； Charles； I never heard him mention
Anne twice all the time I was there。 I declare； Anne； he never talks
of you at all。”
“No；” admitted Charles； “I do not know that he ever does； in a
general way—but however； it is a very clear thing that he admires
you exceedingly。—His head is full of some books that he is reading
upon your recommendation； and he wants to talk to you about
them； he has found out something or other in one of them which
he thinks—Oh！ I cannot pretend to remember it； but it was
something very fine—I overheard him telling Henrietta all about
it—and then ‘Miss Elliot’ was spoken of in the highest terms！—
Now Mary； I declare it was so； I heard it myself； and you were in
the other room。—‘Elegance； sweetness； beauty。’ Oh！ there was no
end of Miss Elliot’s charms。”
“And I am sure；” cried Mary； warmly； “it was a very little to his
credit； if he did。 Miss Harville only died last June。 Such a heart is
very little worth having； is it； Lady Russell？ I am sure you will
agree with me。”
“I must see Captain Benwick before I decide；” said Lady
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Russell； smiling。
“And that you are very likely to do very soon； I can tell you；
ma’am；” said Charles。 “Though he had not nerves for coming
away with us； and setting off again afterwards to pay a formal visit
here； he will make his way over to Kellynch one day by himself；
you may depend on it。 I told him the distance and the road； and I
told him of the church’s being so very well worth seeing； for as he
has a taste for those sort of things； I thought that would be a good
excuse； and he listened with all his understanding and soul； and I
am sure from his manner that you will have him calling here soon。
So； I give you notice； Lady Russell。”
“Any acquaintance of Anne’s will always be welcome to me；”
was Lady Russell’s kind answer。
“Oh！ as to being Anne’s acquaintance；” said Mary； “I think he is
rather my acquaintance； for I have been seeing him every day this
last fortnight。”
“Well； as your joint acquaintance； then； I shall be very happy to
see Captain Benwick。”
“You will not find anything very agreeable in him； I assure you；
ma’am。 He is one of the dullest young men that ever lived。 He has
walked with me； sometimes； from one end of the sands to the
other； without saying a word。 He is not at all a well…bred young
man。 I am sure you will not like him。”
“There we differ； Mary；” said Anne。 “I think Lady Russell
would like him。 I think she would be so much pleased with his
mind； that she would very soon see no deficiency in his manner。”
“So do I； Anne；” said Charles。 “I am sure Lady Russell would
like him。 He is just Lady Russell’s sort。 Give him a book； and he
will read all day long。”
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“Yes； that he will！” exclaimed Mary； tauntingly。 “He will sit
poring over his book； and not know when a person