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received a more gratifying attention。 Miss Elliot was to have the
honour of calling on Mrs。 Musgrove in the course of the morning；
and Anne walked off with Charles and Mary； to go and see her and
Henrietta directly。
Her plan of sitting with Lady Russell must give way for the
present。 They all three called in Rivers…street for a couple of
minutes； but Anne convinced herself that a day’s delay of the
intended communication could be of no consequence； and
hastened forward to the White Hart； to see again the friends and
companions of the last autumn； with an eagerness of good will
which many associations contributed to form。
They found Mrs。 Musgrove and her daughter within； and by
themselves； and Anne had the kindest welcome from each。
Henrietta was exactly in that state of recently…improved views； of
fresh…formed happiness； which made her full of regard and
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interest for everybody she had ever liked before at all； and Mrs。
Musgrove’s real affection had been won by her usefulness when
they were in distress。 It was a heartiness； and a warmth； and a
sincerity which Anne delighted in the more； from the sad want of
such blessings at home。 She was entreated to give them as much
of her time as possible； invited for every day and all day long； or
rather claimed as part of the family； and； in return； she naturally
fell into all her wonted ways of attention and assistance； and on
Charles’s leaving them together； was listening to Mrs。 Musgrove’s
history of Louisa； and to Henrietta’s of herself； giving opinions on
business； and recommendations to shops； with intervals of every
help which Mary required； from altering her ribbon to settling her
accounts； from finding her keys； and assorting her trinkets； to
trying to convince her that she was not ill used by any body； which
Mary； well amused as she generally was； in her station at a
window overlooking the entrance to the Pump Room； could not
but have her moments of imagining。
A morning of thorough confusion was to be expected。 A large
party in an hotel ensured a quick…changing； unsettled scene。 One
five minutes brought a note； the next a parcel； and Anne had not
been there half an hour； when their dining…room； spacious as it
was； seemed more than half filled： a party of steady old friends
were seated around Mrs。 Musgrove； and Charles came back with
Captains Harville and Wentworth。 The appearance of the latter
could not be more than the surprise of the moment。 It was
impossible for her to have forgotten to feel that this arrival of their
common friends must be soon bringing them together again。 Their
last meeting had been most important in opening his feelings； she
had derived from it a delightful conviction； but she feared from his
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looks； that the same unfortunate persuasion； which had hastened
him away from the Concert Room； still governed。 He did not seem
to want to be near enough for conversation。
She tried to be calm； and leave things to take their course； and
tried to dwell much on this argument of rational dependence—
“Surely； if there be constant attachment on each side； our hearts
must understand each other ere long。 We are not boy and girl； to
be captiously irritable； misled by every moment’s inadvertence；
and wantonly playing with our own happiness。” And yet； a few
minutes afterwards； she felt as if their being in company with each
other； under their present circumstances； could only be exposing
them to inadvertencies and misconstructions of the most
mischievous kind。
“Anne；” cried Mary； still at her window； “there is Mrs。 Clay； I
am sure； standing under the colonnade； and a gentleman with her。
I saw them turn the corner from Bath…street just now。 They
seemed deep in talk。 Who is it？—Come； and tell me。 Good
heavens！ I recollect。—It is Mr。 Elliot himself。”
“No；” cried Anne； quickly； “it cannot be Mr。 Elliot； I assure you。
He was to leave Bath at nine this morning； and does not come
back till to…morrow。”
As she spoke； she felt that Captain Wentworth was looking at
her； the consciousness of which vexed and embarrassed her； and
made her regret that she had said so much； simple as it was。
Mary； resenting that she should be supposed not to know her
own cousin； began talking very warmly about the family features；
and protesting still more positively that it was Mr。 Elliot； calling
again upon Anne to come and look for herself； but Anne did not
mean to stir； and tried to be cool and unconcerned。 Her distress
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returned； however； on perceiving smiles and intelligent glances
pass between two or three of the lady visitors； as if they believed
themselves quite in the secret。 It was evident that the report
concerning her had spread； and a short pause succeeded； which
seemed to ensure that it would now spread farther。
“Do come； Anne” cried Mary； “come and look yourself。 You will
be too late if you do not make haste。 They are parting； they are
shaking hands。 He is turning away。 Not know Mr。 Elliot； indeed！—
You seem to have forgot all about Lyme。”
To pacify Mary； and perhaps screen her own embarrassment；
Anne did move quietly to the window。 She was just in time to
ascertain that it really was Mr。 Elliot； which she had never
believed； before he disappeared on one side； as Mrs。 Clay walked
quickly off on the other； and checking the surprise which she
could not but feel at such an appe