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good。
He sat down with them； and improved their conversation very
much。 There could be no doubt of his being a sensible man。 Ten
minutes were enough to certify that。 His tone； his expressions； his
choice of subject； his knowing where to stop；—it was all the
operation of a sensible； discerning mind。 As soon as he could； he
began to talk to her of Lyme； wanting to compare opinions
respecting the place； but especially wanting to speak of the
circumstance of their happening to be guests in the same inn at
the same time； to give his own route； understand something of
hers； and regret that he should have lost such an opportunity of
paying his respects to her。 She gave him a short account of her
party and business at Lyme。 His regret increased as he listened。
He had spent his whole solitary evening in the room adjoining
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theirs； had heard voices—mirth continually； thought they must be
a most delightful set of people—longed to be with them； but
certainly without the smallest suspicion of his possessing the
shadow of a right to introduce himself。 If he had but asked who
the party were！ The name of Musgrove would have told him
enough。 “Well； it would serve to cure him of an absurd practice of
never asking a question at an inn； which he had adopted； when
quite a young man； on the principal of its being very ungenteel to
be curious。
“The notions of a young man of one or two and twenty；” said
he； “as to what is necessary in manners to make him quite the
thing； are more absurd； I believe； than those of any other set of
beings in the world。 The folly of the means they often employ is
only to be equalled by the folly of what they have in view。”
But he must not be addressing his reflections to Anne alone； he
knew it； he was soon diffused again among the others； and it was
only at intervals that he could return to Lyme。
His enquiries； however； produced at length an account of the
scene she had been engaged in there； soon after his leaving the
place。 Having alluded to “an accident；” he must hear the whole。
When he questioned； Sir Walter and Elizabeth began to question
also； but the difference in their manner of doing it could not be
unfelt。 She could only compare Mr。 Elliot to Lady Russell； in the
wish of really comprehending what had passed； and in the degree
of concern for what she must have suffered in witnessing it。
He staid an hour with them。 The elegant little clock on the
mantel…piece had struck “eleven with its silver sounds；” and the
watchman was beginning to be heard at a distance telling the
same tale； before Mr。 Elliot or any of them seemed to feel that he
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had been there long。
Anne could not have supposed it possible that her first evening
in Camden…place could have passed so well！
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CHAPTER IV
here was one point which Anne； on returning to her
family； would have been more thankful to ascertain even
T
than Mr。 Elliot’s being in love with Elizabeth； which was；
her father’s not being in love with Mrs。 Clay； and she was very far
from easy about it； when she had been at home a few hours。 On
going down to breakfast the next morning； she found there had
just been a decent pretence on the lady’s side of meaning to leave
them。 She could imagine Mrs。 Clay to have said； that “now Miss
Anne was come； she could not suppose herself at all wanted；” for
Elizabeth was replying in a sort of whisper； “That must not be any
reason； indeed。 I assure you I feel it none。 She is nothing to me；
compared with you；” and she was in full time to hear her father
say； “My dear madam； this must not be。 As yet； you have seen
nothing of Bath。 You have been here only to be useful。 You must
not run away from us now。 You must stay to be acquainted with
Mrs。 Wallis； the beautiful Mrs。 Wallis。 To your fine mind； I well
know the sight of beauty is a real gratification。”
He spoke and looked so much in earnest； that Anne was not
surprised to see Mrs。 Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and
herself。 Her countenance； perhaps； might express some
watchfulness； but the praise of the fine mind did not appear to
excite a thought in her sister。 The lady could not but yield to such
joint entreaties； and promise to stay。
In the course of the same morning； Anne and her father
chancing to be alone together； he began to compliment her on her
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improved looks； he thought her “less thin in her person； in her
cheeks； her skin； her complexion； greatly improved—clearer；
fresher。 Had she been using any thing in particular？” “No；
nothing。” “Merely Gowland；” he supposed。 “No； nothing at all。”
“Ha！ he was surprised at that；” and added； “certainly you cannot
do better than to continue as you are； you cannot be better than
well； or I should recommend Gowland； the constant use of
Gowland； during the spring months。 Mrs。 Clay has been using it at
my recommendation； and you see what it has done for her。 You
see how it has carried away her freckles。”
If Elizabeth could but have heard this！ Such personal praise
might have struck her； especia