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could not but feel at such an appearance of friendly conference
between two persons of totally opposite interest； she calmly said；
“Yes； it is Mr。 Elliot； certainly。 He has changed his hour of going； I
suppose； that is all—or I may be mistaken； I might not attend；”
and walked back to her chair； recomposed； and with the
comfortable hope of having acquitted herself well。
The visitors took their leave； and Charles； having civilly seen
them off； and then made a face at them； and abused them for
coming； began with—
“Well； mother； I have done something for you that you will like。
I have been to the theatre； and secured a box for to…morrow night。
A’n’t I a good boy？ I know you love a play； and there is room for us
all。 It holds nine。 I have engaged Captain Wentworth。 Anne will
not be sorry to join us； I am sure。 We all like a play。 Have not I
done well； mother？”
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Mrs。 Musgrove was good humouredly beginning to express her
perfect readiness for the play； if Henrietta and all the others liked
it； when Mary eagerly interrupted her by exclaiming；
“Good heavens； Charles！ how can you think of such a thing？
Take a box for to…morrow night！ Have you forgot that we are
engaged to Camden…place to…morrow night？ and that we were
most particularly asked to meet Lady Dalrymple and her
daughter； and Mr。 Elliot—all the principal family connexions—on
purpose to be introduced to them？ How can you be so forgetful？”
“Phoo！ phoo！” replied Charles； “what’s an evening party？
Never worth remembering。 Your father might have asked us to
dinner； I think； if he had wanted to see us。 You may do as you like；
but I shall go to the play。”
“Oh！ Charles； I declare it will be too abominable if you do； when
you promised to go。”
“No； I did not promise。 I only smirked and bowed； and said the
word ‘happy。’ There was no promise。”
“But you must go； Charles。 It would be unpardonable to fail。 We
were asked on purpose to be introduced。 There was always such a
great connexion between the Dalrymples and ourselves。 Nothing
ever happened on either side that was not announced
immediately。 We are quite near relations； you know； and Mr。 Elliot
too； whom you ought so particularly to be acquainted with！ Every
attention is due to Mr。 Elliot。 Consider； my father’s heir—the
future representative of the family。”
“Don’t talk to me about heirs and representatives；” cried
Charles。 “I am not one of those who neglect the reigning power to
bow to the rising sun。 If I would not go for the sake of your father；
I should think it scandalous to go for the sake of his heir。 What is
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Mr。 Elliot to me？”
The careless expression was life to Anne； who saw that Captain
Wentworth was all attention； looking and listening with his whole
soul； and that the last words brought his enquiring eyes from
Charles to herself。
Charles and Mary still talked on in the same style； he； half
serious and half jesting； maintaining the scheme for the play； and
she； invariably serious； most warmly opposing it； and not omitting
to make it known that； however determined to go to Camden…place
herself； she should not think herself very well used； if they went to
the play without her。 Mrs。 Musgrove interposed。
“We had better put it off。 Charles； you had much better go back
and change the box for Tuesday。 It would be a pity to be divided；
and we should be losing Miss Anne； too； if there is a party at her
father’s； and I am sure neither Henrietta nor I should care at all
for the play； if Miss Anne could not be with us。”
Anne felt truly obliged to her for such kindness； and quite as
much so for the opportunity it gave her of decidedly saying—
“If it depended only on my inclination； ma’am； the party at
home （excepting on Mary’s account） would not be the smallest
impediment。 I have no pleasure in the sort of meeting； and should
be too happy to change it for a play； and with you。 But； it had
better not be attempted； perhaps。”
She had spoken it； but she trembled when it was done；
conscious that her words were listened to； and daring not even to
try to observe their effect。
It was soon generally agreed that Tuesday should be the day；
Charles only reserving the advantage of still teasing his wife； by
persisting that he would go to the play to…morrow if nobody else
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would。
Captain Wentworth left his seat； and walked to the fire…place；
probably for the sake of walking away from it soon afterwards； and
taking a station； with less bare…faced design； by Anne。
“You have not been long enough in Bath；” said he； “to enjoy the
evening parties of the place。”
“Oh！ no。 The usual character of them has nothing for me。 I am
no card…player。”
“You were not formerly； I know。 You did not use to like cards；
but time makes many changes。”
“I am not yet so much changed；” cried Anne； and stopped；
fearing she hardly knew what misconstruction。 After waiting a few
moments he said—and as if it were the result of immediate
feeling—“It is a period； indeed！ Eight years and a half is a period。”
Whether he would have proceeded farther was left to Anne’s
imagination to ponder over in a calmer hour； for while still hearing
the sounds he had uttered； she was startled to other subjects by
Henrietta； eager to make use of the present leisure for getting out；
and calling on her companions to lose no time； lest somebody else
should come in。
They were obliged to move。 Anne talked of being perfectly
ready； and tried to look it； but she felt that could Henriet