"Aye, to be sure. Yes, indeed, oh yes! I am quite of your opinion,

Mrs Croft," was Mrs Musgrove's hearty answer. "There is nothing so bad

as a separation. I am quite of your opinion. I know what it is, for

Mr Musgrove always attends the assizes, and I am so glad when they are

over, and he is safe back again."

The evening ended with dancing. On its being proposed, Anne offered

her services, as usual; and though her eyes would sometimes fill with

tears as she sat at the instrument, she was extremely glad to be

employed, and desired nothing in return but to be unobserved.

It was a merry, joyous party, and no one seemed in higher spirits than

Captain Wentworth. She felt that he had every thing to elevate him

which general attention and deference, and especially the attention of

all the young women, could do. The Miss Hayters, the females of the

family of cousins already mentioned, were apparently admitted to the

honour of being in love with him; and as for Henrietta and Louisa, they

both seemed so entirely occupied by him, that nothing but the continued

appearance of the most perfect good-will between themselves could have

made it credible that they were not decided rivals. If he were a

little spoilt by such universal, such eager admiration, who could

wonder?

These were some of the thoughts which occupied Anne, while her fingers

were mechanically at work, proceeding for half an hour together,

equally without error, and without consciousness. Once she felt that

he was looking at herself, observing her altered features, perhaps,

trying to trace in them the ruins of the face which had once charmed

him; and once she knew that he must have spoken of her; she was hardly

aware of it, till she heard the answer; but then she was sure of his

having asked his partner whether Miss Elliot never danced? The answer

was, "Oh, no; never; she has quite given up dancing. She had rather

play. She is never tired of playing." Once, too, he spoke to her.

She had left the instrument on the dancing being over, and he had sat

down to try to make out an air which he wished to give the Miss

Musgroves an idea of. Unintentionally she returned to that part of the

room; he saw her, and, instantly rising, said, with studied politeness-"I beg your pardon, madam, this is your seat;" and though she

immediately drew back with a decided negative, he was not to be induced

to sit down again.




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