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 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.




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