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nothing but good of him from Colonel Wallis； and who can know
him better than Colonel Wallis？”
“My dear Mrs。 Smith； Mr。 Elliot’s wife has not been dead much
above half a year。 He ought not to be supposed to be paying his
addresses to any one。”
“Oh！ if these are your only objections；” cried Mrs。 Smith；
archly； “Mr。 Elliot is safe； and I shall give myself no more trouble
about him。 Do not forget me when you are married； that’s all。 Let
him know me to be a friend of yours； and then he will think little of
the trouble required； which it is very natural for him now； with so
many affairs and engagements of his own； to avoid and get rid of
as he can—very natural； perhaps。 Ninety…nine out of a hundred
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would do the same。 Of course； he cannot be aware of the
importance to me。 Well； my dear Miss Elliot； I hope and trust you
will be very happy。 Mr。 Elliot has sense to understand the value of
such a woman。 Your peace will not be shipwrecked as mine has
been。 You are safe in all worldly matters； and safe in his character。
He will not be led astray； he will not be misled by others to his
ruin。”
“No；” said Anne； “I can readily believe all that of my cousin。 He
seems to have a calm decided temper； not at all open to dangerous
impressions。 I consider him with great respect。 I have no reason；
from any thing that has fallen within my observation； to do
otherwise。 But I have not known him long； and he is not a man； I
think； to be known intimately soon。 Will not this manner of
speaking of him； Mrs。 Smith； convince you that he is nothing to
me？ Surely this must be calm enough。 And； upon my word； he is
nothing to me。 Should he ever propose to me （which I have very
little reason to imagine he has any thought of doing）； I shall not
accept him。 I assure you I shall not。 I assure you Mr。 Elliot had not
the share which you have been supposing； in whatever pleasure
the concert of last night might afford：—not Mr。 Elliot； it is not Mr。
Elliot that—”
She stopped； regretting with a deep blush that she had implied
so much； but less would hardly have been sufficient。 Mrs。 Smith
would hardly have believed so soon in Mr。 Elliot’s failure； but from
the perception of there being a somebody else。 As it was； she
instantly submitted； and with all the semblance of seeing nothing
beyond； and Anne； eager to escape farther notice； was impatient to
know why Mrs。 Smith should have fancied she was to marry Mr。
Elliot； where she could have received the idea； or from whom she
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could have heard it。
“Do tell me how it first came into your head。”
“It first came into my head；” replied Mrs。 Smith； “upon finding
how much you were together； and feeling it to be the most
probable thing in the world to be wished for by everybody
belonging to either of you； and you may depend upon it that all
your acquaintance have disposed of you in the same way。 But I
never heard it spoken of till two days ago。”
“And has it indeed been spoken of？”
“Did you observe the woman who opened the door to you when
you called yesterday？”
“No。 Was not it Mrs。 Speed； as usual； or the maid？ I observed
no one in particular。”
“It was my friend Mrs。 Rooke—Nurse Rooke； who； by the bye；
had a great curiosity to see you； and was delighted to be in the way
to let you in。 She came away from Marlborough…buildings only on
Sunday； and she it was who told me you were to marry Mr。 Elliot。
She had had it from Mrs。 Wallis herself； which did not seem bad
authority。 She sat an hour with me on Monday evening； and gave
me the whole history。”
“The whole history；” repeated Anne； laughing。 “She could not
make a very long history； I think； of one such little article of
unfounded news。”
Mrs。 Smith said nothing。
“But；” continued Anne； presently； “though there is no truth in
my having this claim on Mr。 Elliot； I should be extremely happy to
be of use to you in any way that I could。 Shall I mention to him
your being in Bath？ Shall I take any message？”
“No； I thank you： no； certainly not。 In the warmth of the
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moment； and under a mistaken impression； I might； perhaps； have
endeavoured to interest you in some circumstances； but not now。
No； I thank you； I have nothing to trouble you with。”
“I think you spoke of having known Mr。 Elliot many years？”
“I did。”
“Not before he was married； I suppose？”
“Yes； he was not married when I knew him first。”
“And—were you much acquainted？”
“Intimately。”
“Indeed！ Then do tell me what he was at that time of life。 I have
a great curiosity to know what Mr。 Elliot was as a very young man。
Was he at all such as he appears now？”
“I have not seen Mr。 Elliot these three years；” was Mrs。 Smith’s
answer； given so gravely that it was impossible to pursue the
subject farther； and Anne felt that she had gained nothing but an
increase of curiosity。 They were both silent—Mrs。 Smith very
thoughtful。 At last；
“I beg your pardon； my dear Miss Elliot；” she cried； in her
natural tone of cordiality； “I beg your pardon for the short answers
I have been giving you； but I have been uncertain what I ought to
do。 I have been doubting and considering as to what I ought to tell
you。 There were many things to be taken into the account。 One
hates to be officious； to be giving bad impressions； making
mischief。 Even the smooth surface of family…union seems worth
preserving； though there may be nothing durable beneath。
However； I have determined； I think I am right； I think you ought
to be made acquainted with Mr。 Elliot’s real character。 Though I
fully believe that； at present； you have not the smallest intention of
accept