"I wish," said Henrietta, very well pleased with her companion, "I wish

Lady Russell lived at Uppercross, and were intimate with Dr Shirley. I

have always heard of Lady Russell as a woman of the greatest influence

with everybody! I always look upon her as able to persuade a person to

anything! I am afraid of her, as I have told you before, quite afraid

of her, because she is so very clever; but I respect her amazingly, and

wish we had such a neighbour at Uppercross."

Anne was amused by Henrietta's manner of being grateful, and amused

also that the course of events and the new interests of Henrietta's

views should have placed her friend at all in favour with any of the

Musgrove family; she had only time, however, for a general answer, and

a wish that such another woman were at Uppercross, before all subjects

suddenly ceased, on seeing Louisa and Captain Wentworth coming towards

them. They came also for a stroll till breakfast was likely to be

ready; but Louisa recollecting, immediately afterwards that she had

something to procure at a shop, invited them all to go back with her

into the town. They were all at her disposal.

When they came to the steps, leading upwards from the beach, a

gentleman, at the same moment preparing to come down, politely drew

back, and stopped to give them way. They ascended and passed him; and

as they passed, Anne's face caught his eye, and he looked at her with a

degree of earnest admiration, which she could not be insensible of.

She was looking remarkably well; her very regular, very pretty

features, having the bloom and freshness of youth restored by the fine

wind which had been blowing on her complexion, and by the animation of

eye which it had also produced. It was evident that the gentleman,

(completely a gentleman in manner) admired her exceedingly. Captain

Wentworth looked round at her instantly in a way which shewed his

noticing of it. He gave her a momentary glance, a glance of

brightness, which seemed to say, "That man is struck with you, and even

I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again."

After attending Louisa through her business, and loitering about a

little longer, they returned to the inn; and Anne, in passing

afterwards quickly from her own chamber to their dining-room, had

nearly run against the very same gentleman, as he came out of an

adjoining apartment. She had before conjectured him to be a stranger

like themselves, and determined that a well-looking groom, who was

strolling about near the two inns as they came back, should be his

servant. Both master and man being in mourning assisted the idea. It

was now proved that he belonged to the same inn as themselves; and this

second meeting, short as it was, also proved again by the gentleman's

looks, that he thought hers very lovely, and by the readiness and

propriety of his apologies, that he was a man of exceedingly good

manners. He seemed about thirty, and though not handsome, had an

agreeable person. Anne felt that she should like to know who he was.




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