Anne recollected with pleasure the next morning her promise of going to

Mrs Smith, meaning that it should engage her from home at the time when

Mr Elliot would be most likely to call; for to avoid Mr Elliot was

almost a first object.

She felt a great deal of good-will towards him. In spite of the

mischief of his attentions, she owed him gratitude and regard, perhaps

compassion. She could not help thinking much of the extraordinary

circumstances attending their acquaintance, of the right which he

seemed to have to interest her, by everything in situation, by his own

sentiments, by his early prepossession. It was altogether very

extraordinary; flattering, but painful. There was much to regret. How

she might have felt had there been no Captain Wentworth in the case,

was not worth enquiry; for there was a Captain Wentworth; and be the

conclusion of the present suspense good or bad, her affection would be

his for ever. Their union, she believed, could not divide her more

from other men, than their final separation.

Prettier musings of high-wrought love and eternal constancy, could

never have passed along the streets of Bath, than Anne was sporting

with from Camden Place to Westgate Buildings. It was almost enough to

spread purification and perfume all the way.

She was sure of a pleasant reception; and her friend seemed this

morning particularly obliged to her for coming, seemed hardly to have

expected her, though it had been an appointment.

An account of the concert was immediately claimed; and Anne's

recollections of the concert were quite happy enough to animate her

features and make her rejoice to talk of it. All that she could tell

she told most gladly, but the all was little for one who had been

there, and unsatisfactory for such an enquirer as Mrs Smith, who had

already heard, through the short cut of a laundress and a waiter,

rather more of the general success and produce of the evening than Anne

could relate, and who now asked in vain for several particulars of the

company. Everybody of any consequence or notoriety in Bath was well

know by name to Mrs Smith.

"The little Durands were there, I conclude," said she, "with their

mouths open to catch the music, like unfledged sparrows ready to be

fed. They never miss a concert."

"Yes; I did not see them myself, but I heard Mr Elliot say they were in

the room."

"The Ibbotsons, were they there? and the two new beauties, with the

tall Irish officer, who is talked of for one of them."




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