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nature in the letter。 He does not give the least fling at Benwick；
does not so much as say； ‘I wonder at it； I have a reason of my own
for wondering at it。’ No； you would not guess； from his way of
writing； that he had ever thought of this Miss （what’s her name？）
for himself。 He very handsomely hopes they will be happy
together； and there is nothing very unforgiving in that； I think。”
Anne did not receive the perfect conviction which the Admiral
meant to convey； but it would have been useless to press the
enquiry farther。 She therefore satisfied herself with common…place
remarks or quiet attention； and the Admiral had it all his own way。
“Poor Frederick！” said he at last。 “Now he must begin all over
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again with somebody else。 I think we must get him to Bath。 Sophy
must write； and beg him to come to Bath。 Here are pretty girls
enough； I am sure。 It would be of no use to go to Uppercross again；
for that other Miss Musgrove； I find； is bespoke by her cousin； the
young parson。 Do not you think； Miss Elliot； we had better try to
get him to Bath？”
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CHAPTER VII
hile Admiral Croft was taking this walk with Anne； and
Wexpressing his wish of getting Captain Wentworth to
Bath； Captain Wentworth was already on his way
thither。 Before Mrs。 Croft had written； he was arrived； and the
very next time Anne walked out； she saw him。
Mr。 Elliot was attending his two cousins and Mrs。 Clay。 They
were in Milsom…street。 It began to rain； not much； but enough to
make shelter desirable for women； and quite enough to make it
very desirable for Miss Elliot to have the advantage of being
conveyed home in Lady Dalrymple’s carriage； which was seen
waiting at a little distance； she； Anne； and Mrs。 Clay； therefore；
turned into Molland’s； while Mr。 Elliot stepped to Lady Dalrymple；
to request her assistance。 He soon joined them again； successful；
of course； Lady Dalrymple would be most happy to take them
home； and would call for them in a few minutes。
Her ladyship’s carriage was a barouche； and did not hold more
than four with any comfort。 Miss Carteret was with her mother；
consequently it was not reasonable to expect accommodation for
all the three Camden…place ladies。 There could be no doubt as to
Miss Elliot。 Whoever suffered inconvenience； she must suffer
none； but it occupied a little time to settle the point of civility
between the other two。 The rain was a mere trifle； and Anne was
most sincere in preferring a walk with Mr。 Elliot。 But the rain was
also a mere trifle to Mrs。 Clay； she would hardly allow it even to
drop at all； and her boots were so thick！ much thicker than Miss
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Anne’s； and； in short； her civility rendered her quite as anxious to
be left to walk with Mr。 Elliot as Anne could be； and it was
discussed between them with a generosity so polite and so
determined； that the others were obliged to settle it for them； Miss
Elliot maintaining that Mrs。 Clay had a little cold already； and Mr。
Elliot deciding on appeal； that his cousin Anne’s boots were rather
the thickest。
It was fixed accordingly； that Mrs。 Clay should be of the party in
the carriage； and they had just reached this point； when Anne； as
she sat near the window； descried； most decidedly and distinctly；
Captain Wentworth walking down the street。
Her start was perceptible only to herself； but she instantly felt
that she was the greatest simpleton in the world； the most
unaccountable and absurd！ For a few minutes she saw nothing
before her。 It was all confusion。 She was lost； and when she had
scolded back her senses； she found the others still waiting for the
carriage； and Mr。 Elliot （always obliging） just setting off for Union…
street on a commission of Mrs。 Clay’s。
She now felt a great inclination to go to the outer door； she
wanted to see if it rained。 Why was she to suspect herself of
another motive？ Captain Wentworth must be out of sight。 She left
her seat； she would go； one half of her should not be always so
much wiser than the other half； or always suspecting the other of
being worse than it was。 She would see if it rained。 She was sent
back； however； in a moment by the entrance of Captain
Wentworth himself； among a party of gentlemen and ladies；
evidently his acquaintance； and whom he must have joined a little
below Milsom…street。 He was more obviously struck and confused
by the sight of her than she had ever observed before； he looked
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quite red。 For the first time； since their renewed acquaintance； she
felt that she was betraying the least sensibility of the two。 She had
the advantage of him in the preparation of the last few moments。
All the overpowering； blinding； bewildering； first effects of strong
surprise were over with her。 Still； however； she had enough to
feel！ It was agitation； pain； pleasure； a something between delight
and misery。
He spoke to her； and then turned away。 The character of his
manner was embarrassment。 She could not have called it either
cold or friendly； or anything so certainly as embarrassed。
After a short interval； however； he came towards her； and spoke
again。 Mutual enquiries on common subjects passed； neither of
them； probably； much the wiser for what they heard； and Anne
continuing fully sensible of his being less at ease than formerly。
They had b