Upon Lady Russell's appearance soon afterwards, the whole party was

collected, and all that remained was to marshal themselves, and proceed

into the Concert Room; and be of all the consequence in their power,

draw as many eyes, excite as many whispers, and disturb as many people

as they could.

Very, very happy were both Elizabeth and Anne Elliot as they walked in.

Elizabeth arm in arm with Miss Carteret, and looking on the broad back

of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple before her, had nothing to wish

for which did not seem within her reach; and Anne--but it would be an

insult to the nature of Anne's felicity, to draw any comparison between

it and her sister's; the origin of one all selfish vanity, of the other

all generous attachment.

Anne saw nothing, thought nothing of the brilliancy of the room. Her

happiness was from within. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks glowed;

but she knew nothing about it. She was thinking only of the last half

hour, and as they passed to their seats, her mind took a hasty range

over it. His choice of subjects, his expressions, and still more his

manner and look, had been such as she could see in only one light. His

opinion of Louisa Musgrove's inferiority, an opinion which he had

seemed solicitous to give, his wonder at Captain Benwick, his feelings

as to a first, strong attachment; sentences begun which he could not

finish, his half averted eyes and more than half expressive glance,

all, all declared that he had a heart returning to her at least; that

anger, resentment, avoidance, were no more; and that they were

succeeded, not merely by friendship and regard, but by the tenderness

of the past. Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past. She could

not contemplate the change as implying less. He must love her.

These were thoughts, with their attendant visions, which occupied and

flurried her too much to leave her any power of observation; and she

passed along the room without having a glimpse of him, without even

trying to discern him. When their places were determined on, and they

were all properly arranged, she looked round to see if he should happen

to be in the same part of the room, but he was not; her eye could not

reach him; and the concert being just opening, she must consent for a

time to be happy in a humbler way.

The party was divided and disposed of on two contiguous benches: Anne

was among those on the foremost, and Mr Elliot had manoeuvred so well,

with the assistance of his friend Colonel Wallis, as to have a seat by

her. Miss Elliot, surrounded by her cousins, and the principal object

of Colonel Wallis's gallantry, was quite contented.




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