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course will have nothing to report but of lace and finery。—I mean
to make my profit of Mrs。 Wallis； however。 She has plenty of
money； and I intend she shall buy all the high…priced things I have
in hand now。”
Anne had called several times on her friend； before the
existence of such a person was known in Camden…place。 At last； it
became necessary to speak of her。—Sir Walter； Elizabeth and Mrs。
Clay； returned one morning from Laura…place； with a sudden
invitation from Lady Dalrymple for the same evening； and Anne
was already engaged； to spend that evening in Westgate…buildings。
She was not sorry for the excuse。 They were only asked； she was
sure； because Lady Dalrymple being kept at home by a bad cold；
was glad to make use of the relationship which had been so
pressed on her；—and she declined on her own account with great
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alacrity—“She was engaged to spend the evening with an old
schoolfellow。” They were not much interested in anything relative
to Anne； but still there were questions enough asked； to make it
understood what this old schoolfellow was； and Elizabeth was
disdainful； and Sir Walter severe。
“Westgate…buildings！” said he； “and who is Miss Anne Elliot to
be visiting in Westgate…buildings？—A Mrs。 Smith。 A widow Mrs。
Smith；—and who was her husband？ One of five thousand Mr。
Smiths whose names are to be met with everywhere。 And what is
her attraction？ That she is old and sickly。—Upon my word； Miss
Anne Elliot； you have the most extraordinary taste！ Everything
that revolts other people； low company； paltry rooms； foul air；
disgusting associations are inviting to you。 But surely you may put
off this old lady till to…morrow。 She is not so near her end； I
presume； but that she may hope to see another day。 What is her
age？ Forty？”
“No； Sir； she is not one…and…thirty； but I do not think I can put
off my engagement； because it is the only evening for some time
which will at once suit her and myself。—She goes into the warm
bath to…morrow； and for the rest of the week； you know； we are
engaged。”
“But what does Lady Russell think of this acquaintance？”
asked Elizabeth。
“She sees nothing to blame in it；” replied Anne； “on the
contrary； she approves it； and has generally taken me； when I have
called on Mrs。 Smith。
“Westgate…buildings must have been rather surprised by the
appearance of a carriage drawn up near its pavement；” observed
Sir Walter。—“Sir Henry Russell’s widow； indeed； has no honours
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to distinguish her arms； but still it is a handsome equipage； and no
doubt is well known to convey a Miss Elliot。—A widow Mrs。 Smith
lodging in Westgate…buildings！ A poor widow barely able to live；
between thirty and forty—a mere Mrs。 Smith； an every…day Mrs。
Smith； of all people and all names in the world； to be the chosen
friend of Miss Anne Elliot； and to be preferred by her to her own
family connections among the nobility of England and Ireland！
Mrs。 Smith！ Such a name！”
Mrs。 Clay； who had been present while all this passed； now
thought it advisable to leave the room； and Anne could have said
much； and did long to say a little in defence of her friend’s not very
dissimilar claims to theirs； but her sense of personal respect to her
father prevented her。 She made no reply。 She left it to himself to
recollect； that Mrs。 Smith was not the only widow in Bath between
thirty and forty； with little to live on； and no sirname of dignity。
Anne kept her appointment； the others kept theirs； and of
course she heard the next morning that they had had a delightful
evening。—She had been the only one of the set absent； for Sir
Walter and Elizabeth had not only been quite at her ladyship’s
service themselves； but had actually been happy to be employed
by her in collecting others； and had been at the trouble of inviting
both Lady Russell and Mr。 Elliot； and Mr。 Elliot had made a point
of leaving Colonel Wallis early； and Lady Russell had fresh
arranged all her evening engagements in order to wait on her。
Anne had the whole history of all that such an evening could
supply from Lady Russell。 To her； its greatest interest must be； in
having been very much talked of between her friend and Mr。
Elliot； in having been wished for； regretted； and at the same time
honoured for staying away in such a cause。—Her kind；
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compassionate visits to this old schoolfellow； sick and reduced；
seemed to have quite delighted Mr。 Elliot。 He thought her a most
extraordinary young woman； in her temper； manners； mind； a
model of female excellence。 He could meet even Lady Russell in a
discussion of her merits； and Anne could not be given to
understand so much by her friend； could not know herself to be so
highly rated by a sensible man； without many of those agreeable
sensations which her friend meant to create。
Lady Russell was now perfectly decided in her opinion of Mr。
Elliot。 She was as much convinced of his meaning to gain Anne in
time as of his deserving her； and was beginning to calculate the
number of weeks which would free him from all the remaining
restraints of widowhood； and leave him at liberty to exert his most
open powers of pleasing。 She would not speak to Anne with half
the certainty she felt on the subject； she would venture on little
more than hints of what might be hereafter； of a possible
attachment on his side； of the desirableness of the alliance；
supposing