They had nearly done breakfast, when the sound of a carriage, (almost

the first they had heard since entering Lyme) drew half the party to

the window. It was a gentleman's carriage, a curricle, but only coming

round from the stable-yard to the front door; somebody must be going

away. It was driven by a servant in mourning.

The word curricle made Charles Musgrove jump up that he might compare

it with his own; the servant in mourning roused Anne's curiosity, and

the whole six were collected to look, by the time the owner of the

curricle was to be seen issuing from the door amidst the bows and

civilities of the household, and taking his seat, to drive off.

"Ah!" cried Captain Wentworth, instantly, and with half a glance at

Anne, "it is the very man we passed."

The Miss Musgroves agreed to it; and having all kindly watched him as

far up the hill as they could, they returned to the breakfast table.

The waiter came into the room soon afterwards.

"Pray," said Captain Wentworth, immediately, "can you tell us the name

of the gentleman who is just gone away?"

"Yes, Sir, a Mr Elliot, a gentleman of large fortune, came in last

night from Sidmouth. Dare say you heard the carriage, sir, while you

were at dinner; and going on now for Crewkherne, in his way to Bath and

London."

"Elliot!" Many had looked on each other, and many had repeated the

name, before all this had been got through, even by the smart rapidity

of a waiter.

"Bless me!" cried Mary; "it must be our cousin; it must be our Mr

Elliot, it must, indeed! Charles, Anne, must not it? In mourning, you

see, just as our Mr Elliot must be. How very extraordinary! In the

very same inn with us! Anne, must not it be our Mr Elliot? my

father's next heir? Pray sir," turning to the waiter, "did not you

hear, did not his servant say whether he belonged to the Kellynch

family?"

"No, ma'am, he did not mention no particular family; but he said his

master was a very rich gentleman, and would be a baronight some day."

"There! you see!" cried Mary in an ecstasy, "just as I said! Heir to

Sir Walter Elliot! I was sure that would come out, if it was so.

Depend upon it, that is a circumstance which his servants take care to

publish, wherever he goes. But, Anne, only conceive how extraordinary!

I wish I had looked at him more. I wish we had been aware in time, who

it was, that he might have been introduced to us. What a pity that we

should not have been introduced to each other! Do you think he had the

Elliot countenance? I hardly looked at him, I was looking at the

horses; but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance, I

wonder the arms did not strike me! Oh! the great-coat was hanging over

the panel, and hid the arms, so it did; otherwise, I am sure, I should

have observed them, and the livery too; if the servant had not been in

mourning, one should have known him by the livery."




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