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be examined by a real proficient。”
“I have not had the pleasure of visiting in Camden…place so
long；” replied he； “without knowing something of Miss Anne
Elliot； and I do regard her as one who is too modest for the world
in general to be aware of half her accomplishments； and too highly
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accomplished for modesty to be natural in any other woman。”
“For shame！ for shame！ this is too much flattery。 I forget what
we are to have next；” turning to the bill。
“Perhaps；” said Mr。 Elliot； speaking low； “I have had a longer
acquaintance with your character than you are aware of。”
“Indeed！—How so？ You can have been acquainted with it only
since I came to Bath； excepting as you might hear me previously
spoken of in my own family。”
“I knew you by report long before you came to Bath。 I had
heard you described by those who knew you intimately。 I have
been acquainted with you by character many years。 Your person；
your disposition； accomplishments； manner—they were all present
to me。”
Mr。 Elliot was not disappointed in the interest he hoped to
raise。 No one can withstand the charm of such a mystery。 To have
been described long ago to a recent acquaintance； by nameless
people； is irresistible； and Anne was all curiosity。 She wondered；
and questioned him eagerly—but in vain。 He delighted in being
asked； but he would not tell。
“No； no—some time or other； perhaps； but not now。 He would
mention no names now； but such； he could assure her； had been
the fact。 He had many years ago received such a description of
Miss Anne Elliot as had inspired him with the highest idea of her
merit； and excited the warmest curiosity to know her。”
Anne could think of no one so likely to have spoken with
partiality of her many years ago as the Mr。 Wentworth of
Monkford； Captain Wentworth’s brother。 He might have been in
Mr。 Elliot’s company； but she had not courage to ask the question。
“The name of Anne Elliot；” said he； “has long had an
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interesting sound to me。 Very long has it possessed a charm over
my fancy； and； if I dared； I would breathe my wishes that the name
might never change。”
Such； she believed； were his words； but scarcely had she
received their sound； than her attention was caught by other
sounds immediately behind her； which rendered every thing else
trivial。 Her father and Lady Dalrymple were speaking。
“A well…looking man；” said Sir Walter； “a very well…looking
man。”
“A very fine young man indeed！” said Lady Dalrymple。 “More
air than one often sees in Bath。—Irish； I dare say。”
“No； I just know his name。 A bowing acquaintance。
Wentworth—Captain Wentworth of the navy。 His sister married
my tenant in Somersetshire；—the Croft； who rents Kellynch。”
Before Sir Walter had reached this point； Anne’s eyes had
caught the right direction； and distinguished Captain Wentworth
standing among a cluster of men at a little distance。 As her eyes
fell on him； his seemed to be withdrawn from her。 It had that
appearance。 It seemed as if she had been one moment too late；
and as long as she dared observe； he did not look again： but the
performance was recommencing； and she was forced to seem to
restore her attention to the orchestra and look straight forward。
When she could give another glance； he had moved away。 He
could not have come nearer to her if he would； she was so
surrounded and shut in： but she would rather have caught his eye。
Mr。 Elliot’s speech； too； distressed her。 She had no longer any
inclination to talk to him。 She wished him not so near her。
The first act was over。 Now she hoped for some beneficial
change； and； after a period of nothing…saying amongst the party；
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some of them did decide on going in quest of tea。 Anne was one of
the few who did not choose to move。 She remained in her seat； and
so did Lady Russell； but she had the pleasure of getting rid of Mr。
Elliot； and she did not mean； whatever she might feel on Lady
Russell’s account； to shrink from conversation with Captain
Wentworth； if he gave her the opportunity。 She was persuaded by
Lady Russell’s countenance that she had seen him。
He did not come however。 Anne sometimes fancied she
discerned him at a distance； but he never came。 The anxious
interval wore away unproductively。 The others returned； the room
filled again； benches were reclaimed and repossessed； and another
hour of pleasure or of penance was to be sat out； another hour of
music was to give delight or the gapes； as real or affected taste for
it prevailed。 To Anne； it chiefly wore the prospect of an hour of
agitation。 She could not quit that room in peace without seeing
Captain Wentworth once more； without the interchange of one
friendly look。
In re…settling themselves there were now many changes； the
result of which was favourable for her。 Colonel Wallis declined
sitting down again； and Mr。 Elliot was invited by Elizabeth and
Miss Carteret； in a manner not to be refused； to sit between them；
and by some other removals； and a little scheming of her own；
Anne was enabled to place herself much nearer the end of the
bench than she had been before； much more within reach of a
passer…by。 She could not do so； without comparing herself with
Miss Larolles； the inimitable Miss Larolles；—but still she did it；
and not with much happier effect； though