WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:04.719 Chapter twenty two of Persuasion. This is a LibriVox recording. 2 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:08.439 All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more 3 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:14.320 information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording 4 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:20.640 by Elizabeth Klett. Persuasion by Jane Austen, Chapter twenty two. 5 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:25.000 Anne went home to think over all that she had heard. 6 00:00:25.559 --> 00:00:28.480 In one point, her feelings were relieved by this knowledge 7 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:31.839 of mister Eliot. There was no longer anything of tenderness 8 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:35.200 due to him. He stood as opposed to Captain Wentworth, 9 00:00:35.479 --> 00:00:38.799 in all his own unwelcome obtrusiveness and the evil of 10 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:42.799 his attentions last night. The irremediable mischief he might have 11 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:48.560 done was considered with sensations, unqualified, unperplexed. Pity for him 12 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:51.880 was all over. But this was the only point of relief. 13 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:56.119 In every other respect, in looking around her or penetrating forward, 14 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:59.719 she saw more to distrust and to apprehend. She was 15 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.640 discerned for the disappointment in pain. Lady Russell would be 16 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:05.599 feeling for the mortification which must be hanging over her 17 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:08.719 father and sister, and had all the distress of foreseeing 18 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:12.439 many evils without knowing how to avert any one of them, 19 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:15.280 she was most thankful for her own knowledge of him. 20 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:18.079 She had never considered herself as entitled to reward for 21 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:21.079 not slighting an old friend like Missus Smith. But here 22 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:24.439 was a reward, indeed, springing from it. Missus Smith had 23 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:26.359 been able to tell her what no one else could 24 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:29.640 have done. Could the knowledge have been extended through her family? 25 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:32.920 But this was a vain idea. She must talk to 26 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:36.560 Lady Russell, tell her, consult with her, wait the event 27 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:40.040 with as much composure as possible, And after all, her 28 00:01:40.040 --> 00:01:42.560 greatest want of composure would be in that quarter of 29 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:44.840 the mind which could not be open to Lady Russell, 30 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:47.920 in that flow of anxieties and fears which must be 31 00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:52.400 all to herself. She found on reaching home that she had, 32 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:55.959 as she intended, escaped seeing mister Eliot. They had called 33 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:58.640 and paid them a long morning visit, but hardly had 34 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:01.920 She congratulated herself and felt safe when she heard that 35 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:05.400 he was coming again in the evening. I had not 36 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:09.879 the smallest intention of asking him, said Elizabeth, with affected carelessness. 37 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:13.479 But he gave so many hints, So Missus Clay says, 38 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:17.680 at least, indeed, I do say it. I never saw 39 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:21.319 anybody in my life spell harder for an invitation, poor man, 40 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.120 I was really in pain for him. For your hard 41 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:29.639 hearted sister, miss Anne, seems bent on cruelty. No, cried Elizabeth, 42 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:32.159 I have been rather too much used to the game 43 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:35.759 to be soon overcome by a gentleman's hints. However, when 44 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:38.599 I found how excessively he was regretting that he should 45 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:42.039 miss my father this morning, I gave way immediately, for 46 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:44.719 I would never really omit an opportunity of bringing him 47 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:48.000 and Sir Walter together. They appear to so much advantage 48 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.960 in company with each other, each behaving so pleasantly. Mister 49 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:57.080 Elliot looking up with so much respect. Quite delightful, cried 50 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:00.000 missus Clay, not daring, however, to turn her eyes toward 51 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.960 towards Anne, exactly like father and son. Dear miss Eliot, 52 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:08.360 may I not say father and son. No, I lay 53 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:12.039 no embargo on anybody's words, if you will have such ideas, 54 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:15.280 But upon my word, I am scarcely sensible of his 55 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:20.159 attentions being beyond those of other men. My dear miss Eliot, 56 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:24.319 exclaimed missus Clay, lifting her hands and eyes and sinking 57 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:28.560 all the rest of her astonishment in a convenient silence. Well, 58 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:31.280 my dear Penelope, you need not be so alarmed about him. 59 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:33.919 I did invite him, you know. I sent him away 60 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:36.400 with smiles. When I found he was really going to 61 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:39.039 his friends at Thornbury Park for the whole day to morrow, 62 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:43.520 I had compassion on him. Anne admired the good acting 63 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:46.080 of the friend in being able to show such pleasure 64 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:48.840 as she did in the expectation and in the actual 65 00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:51.759 arrival of the very person whose presence must really be 66 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.159 interfering with her prime object. It was impossible but that 67 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:57.840 missus Clay must hate the sight of mister Eliot, and 68 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.599 yet she could assume a most obliging play said look, 69 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:03.840 and appear quite satisfied with the curtailed license of devoting 70 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.360 herself only half as much to Sir Walter as she 71 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:09.919 would have done otherwise to Anne herself. It was most 72 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:12.879 distressing to see mister Elliot enter the room, and quite 73 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:15.360 painful to have him approach and speak to her. She 74 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:17.360 had been used before to feel that he could not 75 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:21.879 be always quite sincere, but now she saw insincerity in everything. 76 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:25.959 His attentive deference to her father contrasted with his former 77 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:29.079 language was odious, and when she thought of his cruel 78 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:32.079 conduct towards missus Smith. She could hardly bear the sight 79 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:34.879 of his present smiles and mildness, or the sound of 80 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:38.639 his artificial good sentiments. She meant to avoid any such 81 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:41.680 alteration of manners as might provoke a remonstrance on his side. 82 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.240 It was a great object to her to escape all 83 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:47.560 inquiry or a clot But it was her intention to 84 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.319 be as decidedly cool to him as might be compatible 85 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:53.720 with their relationship. Anne to retrace as quietly as she 86 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:56.920 could the few steps of unnecessary intimacy she had been 87 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:00.800 gradually led along. She was accordingly more guarded and more 88 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:04.600 cool than she had been the night before. He wanted 89 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:07.319 to animate her curiosity again as to how and where 90 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:10.360 he could have heard her formerly praised. Wanted very much 91 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:14.000 to be gratified by more solicitation, But the charm was broken. 92 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:16.759 He found that the heat and animation of a public 93 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:20.319 room was necessary to kindle his modest cousin's vanity. He 94 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:22.519 found at least that it was not to be done 95 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:25.040 now by any of those attempts which he could hazard. 96 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:28.399 Among the two commanding claims of the others. He little 97 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:31.560 surmised that it was a subject acting now exactly against 98 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:34.879 his interest, bringing immediately to her thoughts all those parts 99 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.959 of his conduct which were least excusable. She had some 100 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:41.439 satisfaction in finding that he was really going out of 101 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:44.560 Bath the next morning, going early, and that he would 102 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:47.000 be gone the greater part of two days. He was 103 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:49.800 invited again to Camden Place the very evening of his return, 104 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:53.120 but from Thursday to Saturday evening his absence was certain. 105 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:55.600 It was bad enough that a missus Clay should be 106 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.680 always before her, but that a deeper hypocrite should be 107 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:01.680 added to their party seemed the destruction of everything like 108 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:05.360 peace and comfort. It was so humiliating to reflect on 109 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:08.680 the constant deception practiced on her father and Elizabeth, to 110 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:12.720 consider the various sources of mortification preparing for them. Missus 111 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:16.279 Clay's selfishness was not so complicated nor so revolting as his, 112 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:19.040 and Anne would have compounded for the marriage at once, 113 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:22.439 with all its evils, to be clear of mister Elliot's subtleties, 114 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:26.240 and endeavoring to prevent it. On Friday morning, she meant 115 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:28.879 to go very early to Lady Russell and accomplish the 116 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:33.120 necessary communication, and she would have gone directly after breakfast, 117 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:35.560 but that missus Clay was also going out on some 118 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:39.000 obliging purpose of saving her sister trouble, which determined her 119 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:41.319 to wait till she might be safe from such a companion. 120 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:44.959 She saw missus Clay fairly off. Therefore, before she began 121 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:48.879 to talk of spending the morning in Rivers Street, very well, 122 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:52.800 said Elizabeth. I have nothing to send but my love. No, 123 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:55.680 you may as well take back that tiresome books she 124 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:57.959 would lend me and pretend I have read it through. 125 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:01.120 I really cannot be plaguing myself for ever with all 126 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:03.800 the new poems and states of the Nation that come out. 127 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:08.199 Lady Russell quite bores one with her new publications. You 128 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:10.800 need not tell her so. But I thought her dress 129 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.480 hideous the other night. I used to think she had 130 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:16.120 some taste in dress. But I was shamed of her 131 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:20.120 at the concert, something so formal and arranged in her air, 132 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:24.240 And she sits so upright. My best love, of course, 133 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:29.519 and mine, added Sir Walter, kindest regards. And you may 134 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:31.720 say that I mean to call upon her very soon 135 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:35.360 make a civil message, but I shall only leave my card. 136 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.319 Morning visits are never fare by women at her time. 137 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:41.160 Of life who make themselves up so little. If she 138 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:43.480 would only wear rouge, she would not be afraid of 139 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:46.759 being seen. But last time I called, I observed the 140 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:51.600 blind were let down immediately. While her father spoke, there 141 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:54.839 was a knock at the door. Who could it be? Anne, 142 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:58.120 remembering the preconcerted visits at all hours of mister Elliot, 143 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:01.160 would have expected him, but for her known engagement seven 144 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:04.839 miles off. After the usual period of suspense, the usual 145 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:08.199 sounds of approach were heard, and mister and Missus Charles 146 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:12.279 Musgrove were ushered into the room. Surprise was the strongest 147 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:15.399 emotion raised by their appearance, but Anne was really glad 148 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.079 to see them, and the others were not so sorry, 149 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.399 but that they could put on a decent air of welcome, 150 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:23.120 And as soon as it became clear that these their 151 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:26.360 nearest relations were not arrived with any views of accommodation 152 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:29.120 in that house, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were able to 153 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:32.200 rise in cordiality and do the honors of it very well. 154 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:34.600 They were come to bath for a few days with 155 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:37.679 Missus Musgrove, and were at the White Heart. So much 156 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:40.919 was pretty soon understood. But till Sir Walter and Elizabeth 157 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:43.600 were walking Mary into the other drawing room and regaling 158 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:47.000 themselves with her admiration. Anne could not draw upon Charles's 159 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.360 brain for a regular history of their coming, or an 160 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:52.559 explanation of some smiling hints of particular business which had 161 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:55.519 been ostentatiously dropped by Mary, as well as of some 162 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:59.279 apparent confusion as to whom their party consisted of. She 163 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.720 then found that it consisted of Missus Musgrove, Henrietta and 164 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:05.960 Captain Harville, beside their two selves. He gave her a 165 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:09.240 very plain, intelligible account of the whole, an narration in 166 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:12.080 which she saw a great deal of most characteristic proceeding. 167 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:15.559 The scheme had received its first impulse by Captain Harville's 168 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.279 wanting to come to Bath on business. He had begun 169 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:20.320 to talk of it a week ago, and by way 170 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:23.720 of doing something as shooting was over, Charles had proposed 171 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:26.080 coming with him, and Missus Harville had seemed to like 172 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:28.440 the idea of it very much as an advantage to 173 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:31.240 her husband, But Mary could not bear to be left, 174 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.240 and had made herself so unhappy about it that for 175 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.600 a day or two everything seemed to be in suspense 176 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.720 or at an end. But then it had been taken 177 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:42.200 up by his father and mother. His mother had some 178 00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:44.639 old friends in Bath whom she wished to see. It 179 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:47.240 was thought a good opportunity for Henrietta to come and 180 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:50.519 buy wedding clothes for herself and her sister, And in 181 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:53.600 short it ended in being his mother's party. That everything 182 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.440 might be comfortable and easy to Captain Harville, and he 183 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.159 and Mary were included in it by way of general convenience. 184 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:02.480 They had a arrived late the night before Missus Harville, 185 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:05.480 her children, and Captain Bennock remained with mister Musgrove and 186 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:10.080 Louisa at Uppercross. Anne's only surprise was that affairs should 187 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:12.559 be in forwardness enough for Henriette's wedding clothes to be 188 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:16.000 talked of. She had imagined such difficulties of fortune to 189 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:18.559 exist there as must prevent the marriage from being near 190 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:22.039 at hand. But she learned from Charles that very recently 191 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:25.559 since Mary's last letter to herself, Charles Hater had been 192 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:27.600 applied to by a friend to hold a living for 193 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.519 a youth who could not possibly claim it under many years, 194 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:33.320 and that on the strength of his present income, with 195 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:35.960 almost a certainty of something more permanent, long before the 196 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:38.799 term in question. The two families had consented to the 197 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:41.480 young people's wishes, and that their marriage was likely to 198 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:44.279 take place in a few months, quite as soon as Louisa's, 199 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:48.279 and a very good living it was, Charles added, only 200 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:50.600 five and twenty miles from up Across, and in a 201 00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:54.360 very fine country, fine part of Dorsetshire, in the center 202 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:56.919 of some of the best preserves in the Kingdom, surrounded 203 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:00.159 by three great proprietors, each more careful and jealous than 204 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:02.480 the other, And to two of the three, at least 205 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:05.879 Charles Hayter might get a special recommendation, not that he 206 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:09.279 will value it as he ought, he observed. Charles is 207 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:13.440 too cool about sporting. That's the worst of him. I 208 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:18.039 am extremely glad, indeed, cried Anne, particularly glad that this 209 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:21.399 should happen, And that of two sisters who both deserve 210 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:24.279 equally well, and who have always been such good friends. 211 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:27.279 The pleasant prospect of one should not be dimming those 212 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:29.399 of the other, that they should be so equal in 213 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:32.559 their prosperity and comfort. I hope your father and mother 214 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:36.440 are quite happy with regard to both. Oh. Yes, my 215 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:38.919 father would be well pleased if the gentlemen were richer 216 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.919 but he has no other fault to find money, you know, 217 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:45.120 coming down with money two daughters at once, it cannot 218 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:47.759 be a very agreeable operation, and it straightens him as 219 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.120 to many things. However, I do not mean to say 220 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:51.879 that they have not a right to it. It is 221 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:54.480 very fit that they should have daughters shares, and I 222 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:56.799 am sure he has always been a very kind liberal 223 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:00.840 father to me. Mary does not above half like Henrietta's match. 224 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:03.279 She never did, you know, but she does not do 225 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:07.039 him justice nor think enough about Winthrop. I cannot make 226 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:09.360 her attend to the value of the property. It is 227 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:11.840 a very fair match as times go. And I have 228 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.279 liked Charles Hater all my life, and I shall not 229 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:18.320 leave off now. Such excellent parents as mister and missus 230 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:22.279 Musgrove exclaimed, Anne, should be happy in their children's marriages. 231 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:25.639 They do everything to confer happiness. I am sure what 232 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:28.120 a blessing to young people to be in such hands. 233 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.039 Your father and mother seem so totally free from all 234 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:34.440 those ambitious feelings which have led to so much misconduct 235 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:37.480 and misery, both in young and old. I hope you 236 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:42.879 think Louisa perfectly recovered now, he answered rather hesitatingly. Yes, 237 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:47.360 I believe I do very much recovered, But she is altered. 238 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:51.559 There is no running or jumping about, no laughing or dancing. 239 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:55.240 It is quite different if one happens only to shut 240 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.919 the door a little hard. She starts and wriggles like 241 00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:00.799 a young dab chick in the water, and Bennick sits 242 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:04.600 at her elbow, reading verses or whispering to her all 243 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:09.159 day long. Anne could not help laughing. That cannot be 244 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:12.080 much to your taste, I know, said she. But I 245 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:15.360 do believe him to be an excellent young man. To 246 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:18.360 be sure he is. Nobody doubts it, and I hope 247 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:20.159 you do not think I am so illiberal as to 248 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:22.519 want every man to have the same objects and pleasures 249 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:25.639 as myself. I have a great value for Bennick, and 250 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:27.919 when one can but get him to talk, he has 251 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:31.159 plenty to say. His reading has done him no harm, 252 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:33.600 for he has fought as well as read. He is 253 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:36.559 a brave fellow. I got more acquainted with him last 254 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:39.080 Monday than ever I did before. We had a famous 255 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.159 set to at rat hunting all the morning in my 256 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:44.159 father's great barns, and he played his part so well 257 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:47.879 that I have liked him the better ever, since here 258 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:51.000 they were interrupted by the absolute necessity of Charles's following 259 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:54.000 the others to admire mirrors and china. But Anne had 260 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:56.679 heard enough to understand the present state of Upper Cross 261 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:59.399 and to rejoice in its happiness. And though she sighed 262 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:01.799 as she rejoined, her sigh had none of the ill 263 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:04.360 will of envy in it. She would certainly have risen 264 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.519 to their blessings if she could, but she did not 265 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:10.799 want to lessen theirs. The visit passed off altogether in 266 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:14.600 high good humor. Mary was in excellent spirits, enjoying the 267 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:17.399 gaiety and the change, and so well satisfied with the 268 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:19.879 journey in her mother in law's carriage with four horses, 269 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:23.080 and with her own complete independence of Camden Place, that 270 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:25.559 she was exactly in a temper to admire everything as 271 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:28.600 she ought, and enter most readily into all the superiorities 272 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:31.120 of the house as they were detailed to her. She 273 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:33.600 had no demands on her father or sister, and her 274 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:37.080 consequence was just enough increased by their handsome drawing rooms. 275 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.720 Elizabeth was for a short time suffering a good deal. 276 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:43.399 She felt that missus Musgrove and all her party ought 277 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:45.399 to be asked to dine with them. But she could 278 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:48.039 not bear to have the difference of style, the reduction 279 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:51.279 of servants which a dinner must betray, witnessed by those 280 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:54.039 who had been always so inferior to the elliots of Kellynch. 281 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:58.000 It was a struggle between propriety and vanity, but vanity 282 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:01.559 got the better, and then Elizabeth was hal These were 283 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:07.480 her internal persuasions, old fashioned notions country hospitality. We do 284 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:10.200 not profess to give dinners. Few people in Bath do. 285 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:13.639 Lady Alicia never does. Did not even ask her own 286 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:16.320 sister's family, though they were here a month, and I 287 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:18.679 d fest say it would be very inconvenient to missus. 288 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.600 Musgrove put her quite out of her way. I am 289 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:24.519 sure she would rather not come. She cannot feel easy 290 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:26.840 with us. I will ask them all for an evening 291 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:29.679 that will be much better. That will be a novelty 292 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:32.360 and a treat. They have not seen two such drawing 293 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:35.279 rooms before. They will be delighted to come to morrow evening. 294 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:39.360 It shall be a regular party, small but most elegant. 295 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:43.799 And this satisfied Elizabeth. And when the invitation was given 296 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:46.879 to the two present and promised for the absent, Mary 297 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.600 was as completely satisfied. She was particularly asked to meet 298 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:54.080 mister Elliot and be introduced to Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, 299 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:57.240 who were fortunately already engaged to come, and she could 300 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:00.799 not have received a more gratifying attention. Miss Elliot was 301 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:02.799 to have the honor of calling on Missus Musgrove in 302 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:05.080 the course of the morning, and Anne walked off with 303 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:07.879 Charles and Mary to go and see her, and Henrietta 304 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.879 directly her plan of sitting with Lady Russell must give 305 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.600 way for the present. They all three called in River 306 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:16.440 Street for a couple of minutes, but Anne convinced herself 307 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:18.799 that a day's delay of the intended communication could be 308 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:21.720 of no consequence, and hastened forward to the White Heart 309 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:24.720 to see again the friends and companions of the last autumn, 310 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:28.240 with an eagerness of good will which many associations contributed 311 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:31.639 to form. They found Missus Musgrove and her daughter within 312 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:35.120 and by themselves, and Anne had the kindest welcome from each. 313 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:38.879 Henrietta was exactly in that state of recently improved views, 314 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:41.919 of fresh formed happiness, which made her full of regard 315 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:44.600 and interest for everybody she had ever liked before at all, 316 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:47.399 and missus Musgrove's real affection had been won by her 317 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:50.759 usefulness when they were in distress. It was a heartiness 318 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.799 and a warmth and a sincerity which Anne delighted in 319 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:56.480 the more from the sad want of such blessings at home. 320 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:58.840 She was entreated to give them as much of her 321 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:02.240 time as possible, invited for every day and all day long, 322 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:04.920 or rather claimed as part of the family, and in 323 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:08.039 return she naturally fell into her wonted ways of attention 324 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:11.599 and assistance, and on Charles's leaving them together, was listening 325 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:15.200 to Missus Musgrove's history of Louisa and to Henrietta's of herself, 326 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:19.680 giving opinions on business and recommendations to shops, with intervals 327 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:22.680 of every help which Mary required, from altering her ribbon 328 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:25.960 to settling her accounts, from finding her keys and assorting 329 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:28.319 her trinkets, to trying to convince her that she was 330 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:31.799 not ill used by anybody, which Mary well amused as 331 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:34.720 she generally was. In her station at a window overlooking 332 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.920 the entrance to the pump room, could not but have 333 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:41.240 her moments of imagining a morning of thorough confusion was 334 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:44.400 to be expected. A large party in an hotel enshored 335 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:48.799 a quick changing, unsettled scene. One five minutes brought a note, 336 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:51.400 the next a parcel, and Anne had not been there 337 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:54.000 half an hour when their dining room, spacious as it was, 338 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:57.319 seemed more than half filled. A party of steady old 339 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:00.440 friends were seated around missus Musgrove and Charles came back 340 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:03.599 with Captains Harville and Wentworth. The appearance of the latter 341 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:05.799 could not be more than the surprise of the moment. 342 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:08.400 It was impossible for her to have forgotten to feel 343 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:11.160 that his arrival of their common friends must be soon, 344 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.319 bringing them together again. Their last meeting had been most 345 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:17.240 important in opening his feelings. She had derived from it 346 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:20.599 a delightful conviction. But she feared from his looks that 347 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:23.839 the same unfortunate persuasion which had hastened him away from 348 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.920 the concert room still governed. He did not seem to 349 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:29.799 want to be near enough for conversation. She tried to 350 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:32.480 be calm and leave things to take their course, and 351 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:36.400 tried to dwell much on the argument of rational dependence. Surely, 352 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:39.839 if there be constant attachment on each side, our hearts 353 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.880 must understand each other ere long we are not boy 354 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:47.559 and girl to be captiously irritable, misled by every moments inadvertence, 355 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:51.400 and wantonly playing with our own happiness. And yet a 356 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:54.039 few minutes afterwards, she felt as if their being in 357 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.880 company with each other under their present circumstances could only 358 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:00.960 be exposing them to inadvertencies and miss constructions of the 359 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:05.599 most mischievous kind. Anne cried Mary, still at her window. 360 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:09.359 There is missus Clay, I am sure standing under the colonnade, 361 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.640 and a gentleman with her. I saw them turn the 362 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:14.920 corner from Bath Street just now. They seemed deep in talk. 363 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:19.279 Who is it? Come and tell me? Good heavens, I 364 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:24.839 recollect it is mister Elliot himself. No, cried Anne quickly. 365 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.680 It cannot be mister Eliot. I assure you he was 366 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:29.960 to leave Bath at nine this morning and does not 367 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:33.519 come back till to morrow. As she spoke, she felt 368 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:36.240 that Captain Wentworth was looking at her, the consciousness of 369 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:39.000 which vexed and embarrassed her, and made her regret that 370 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:42.759 she had said so much, simple as it was. Mary, 371 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:44.839 resenting that she should be supposed not to know her 372 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:48.319 own cousin, began talking very warmly about the family features, 373 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:51.519 and protesting still more positively that it was mister Eliot, 374 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:54.079 calling again upon Anne to come and look for herself. 375 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:56.640 But Anne did not mean to stir and tried to 376 00:19:56.680 --> 00:20:00.680 be cool and unconcerned. Her distress returned, however, on perceiving 377 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:03.880 smiles and intelligent glances passed between two or three of 378 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:06.640 the lady visitors, as if they believed themselves quite in 379 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:09.599 the secret. It was evident that the report concerning her 380 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:13.119 had spread, and a short pause succeeded, which seemed to 381 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:18.039 ensure that it would now spread further. Do come, Anne cried, Mary, 382 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:20.720 Come and look yourself. You will be too late if 383 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:23.359 you do not make haste. They are parting, they are 384 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:27.519 shaking hands. He is turning away. Not know mister Eliot, indeed, 385 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:32.200 you seem to have forgot all about lime. To pacify 386 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:35.759 Mary and perhaps screen her own embarrassment, Anne did move 387 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:38.400 quietly to the window. She was just in time to 388 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:41.039 ascertain that it really was mister Eliot, which she had 389 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:44.359 never believed before. He disappeared on one side, as Missus 390 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:47.200 Clay walked quickly off on the other, and checking the 391 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:49.119 surprise which she could not but feel at such an 392 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:53.160 appearance of friendly conference between two persons of totally opposite interest. 393 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:58.039 She calmly said, yes, it is mister Eliot. Certainly he 394 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:00.799 has changed his hour of going. I suppose that is all, 395 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:04.759 or I may be mistaken, I might not attend, and 396 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:07.920 walked back to her chair, recomposed and with the comfortable 397 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:11.960 hope of having acquitted herself well. The visitors took their leave, 398 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:14.839 and Charles, having civilly seen them off and then made 399 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:19.160 a face at them and abused them for coming, began with, well, mother, 400 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.240 I have done something for you that you will like. 401 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:23.920