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really forget by what—for I was in a hurry； and could not much
attend； and I can only answer for his being determined not to be
delayed in his return。 He wanted to know how early he might be
admitted to…morrow。 He was full of ‘to…morrow；’ and it is very
evident that I have been full of it too； ever since I entered the
house； and learnt the extension of your plan and all that had
happened； or my seeing him could never have gone so entirely out
of my head。”
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CHAPTER XI
ne day only had passed since Anne’s conversation with
Mrs。 Smith； but a keener interest had succeeded； and she
O
was now so little touched by Mr。 Elliot’s conduct； except
by its effects in one quarter； that it became a matter of course the
next morning； still to defer her explanatory visit in Rivers…street。
She had promised to be with the Musgroves from breakfast to
dinner。 Her faith was plighted； and Mr。 Elliot’s character； like the
Sultaness Scheherazade’s head； must live another day。
She could not keep her appointment punctually； however； the
weather was unfavourable； and she had grieved over the rain on
her friends’ account； and felt it very much on her own； before she
was able to attempt the walk。 When she reached the White Hart；
and made her way to the proper apartment； she found herself
neither arriving quite in time； nor the first to arrive。 The party
before her were； Mrs。 Musgrove； talking to Mrs。 Croft； and Captain
Harville to Captain Wentworth； and she immediately heard that
Mary and Henrietta； too impatient to wait； had gone out the
moment it had cleared； but would be back again soon； and that the
strictest injunctions had been left with Mrs。 Musgrove to keep her
there till they returned。 She had only to submit； sit down； be
outwardly composed； and feel herself plunged at once in all the
agitations which she had merely laid her account of tasting a little
before the morning closed。 There was no delay； no waste of time。
She was deep in the happiness of such misery； or the misery of
such happiness； instantly。 Two minutes after her entering the
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room； Captain Wentworth said；
“We will write the letter we were talking of； Harville； now； if
you will give me materials。”
Materials were all at hand； on a separate table； he went to it；
and nearly turning his back to them all； was engrossed by writing。
Mrs。 Musgrove was giving Mrs。 Croft the history of her eldest
daughter’s engagement； and just in that inconvenient tone of voice
which was perfectly audible while it pretended to be a whisper。
Anne felt that she did not belong to the conversation； and yet； as
Captain Harville seemed thoughtful and not disposed to talk； she
could not avoid hearing many undesirable particulars； such as；
“how Mr。 Musgrove and my brother Hayter had met again and
again to talk it over； what my brother Hayter had said one day；
and what Mr。 Musgrove had proposed the next； and what had
occurred to my sister Hayter； and what the young people had
wished； and what I said at first I never could consent to； but was
afterwards persuaded to think might do very well；” and a great
deal in the same style of open…hearted communication—minutiae
which； even with every advantage of taste and delicacy； which
good Mrs。 Musgrove could not give； could be properly interesting
only to the principals。 Mrs。 Croft was attending with great good…
humour； and whenever she spoke at all； it was very sensibly。 Anne
hoped the gentlemen might each be too much self…occupied to
hear。
“And so； ma’am； all these thing considered；” said Mrs。
Musgrove； in her powerful whisper； “though we could have wished
it different； yet； altogether； we did not think it fair to stand out any
longer； for Charles Hayter was quite wild about it； and Henrietta
was pretty near as bad； and so we thought they had better marry
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at once； and make the best of it； as many others have done before
them。 At any rate； said I； it will be better than a long engagement。”
“That is precisely what I was going to observe；” cried Mrs。
Croft。 “I would rather have young people settle on a small income
at once； and have to struggle with a few difficulties together； than
be involved in a long engagement。 I always think that no mutual—
”
“Oh！ dear Mrs。 Croft；” cried Mrs。 Musgrove； unable to let her
finish her speech； “there is nothing I so abominate for young
people as a long engagement。 It is what I always protested against
for my children。 It is all very well； I used to say； for young people
to be engaged； if there is a certainty of their being able to marry in
six months； or even in twelve； but a long engagement—”
“Yes； dear ma’am；” said Mrs。 Croft； “or an uncertain
engagement； an engagement which may be long。 To begin without
knowing that at such a time there will be the means of marrying； I
hold to be very unsafe and unwise； and what I think all parents
should prevent as far as they can。”
Anne found an unexpected interest here。 She felt its application
to herself； felt it in a nervous thrill all over her； and at the same
moment that her eyes instinctively glanced towards the distant
table； Captain Wentworth’s pen ceased to move； his head was
raised； pausing； listening； and he turned round the next instant to
give a look—one quick； conscious look at her。
The two ladies continued to talk； to re…urge the same admitted
truths； and enforce them with such examples of t