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but then followed ‘I hate to be at an uncertainty—I must know at
once—Sophy thinks the same。’ Then； in a lower tone； Capt。 W。
seemed remonstrating—wanting to be excused—wanting to put
something off。 ‘Phoo； Phoo—answered the Admiral； now is the
Time。 If you will not speak； I will stop & speak myself。’—‘Very well
Sir； very well Sir； followed with some impatience from his
companion； opening the door as he spoke。—‘You will then—you
promise you will？’ replied the Admiral； in all the power of his
natural voice； unbroken even by one thin door。—‘Yes； Sir—Yes。’
And the Admiral was hastily left； the door was closed； and the
moment arrived in which Anne was alone with Capt。 W。 She could
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not attempt to see how he looked； but he walked immediately to a
window； as if irresolute & embarrassed；—and for about the space
of 5 seconds； she repented what she had done—censured it as
unwise； blushed over it as indelicate。—She longed to be able to
speak of the weather or the Concert—but could only compass the
relief of taking a Newspaper in her hand。—The distressing pause
was soon over however； he turned round in half a minute； and
coming towards the Table where she sat； said； in a voice of effort
& constraint—‘You must have heard too much already Madam to
be in any doubt of my having promised Admiral Croft to speak to
you on some particular subject—& this conviction determines me
to do it—however repugnant to my—to all my sense of propriety；
to be taking so great a liberty。—You wiil acquit me of
Impertinence I trust； by considering me as speaking only for
another； and speaking by Necessity；—and the Admiral is a Man
who can never be thought Impertinent by one who knows him as
you do—。 His Intentions are always the kindest & the Best；—and
you will perceive that he is actuated by none other； in the
application which I am now with—with very peculiar feelings—
obliged to make。’—He stopped—but merely to recover breath；—
not seeming to expect any answer。—Anne listened； as if her Life
depended on the issue of his Speech。—He proceeded； with a
forced alacrity。—‘The Admiral； Madam； was this morning
confidently informed that you were—upon my word I am quite at
a loss； ashamed—（breathing & speaking quick）—the awkwardness
of giving Information of this sort to one of the Parties—You can be
at no loss to understand me—It was very confidently said that Mr
Elliot—that everything was settled in the family for an Union
between Mr Elliot—& yourself。 It was added that you were to live
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at Kellynch—that Kellynch was to be given up。 This； the Admiral
knew could not be correct—But it occurred to him that it might be
the wish of the Parties—And my commission from him Madam； is
to say； that if the Family wish is such； his Lease of Kellynch shall
be cancel’d； & he & my sister will provide themselves with
another home； without imagining themselves to be doing anything
which under similar circumstances would not be done for them。—
This is all Madam。—A very few words in reply from you will be
sufficient。—That I should be the person commissioned on this
subject is extraordinary！—and believe me Madam； it is no less
painful。—A very few words however will put an end to the
awkwardness & distress we may both be feeling。’ Anne spoke a
word or two； but they were un…intelligible—And before she could
command herself； he added；—‘If you only tell me that the Admiral
may address a Line to Sir Walter； it will be enough。 Pronounce
only the words； he may。—I shall immediately follow him with your
message。—’ This was spoken； as with a fortitude which seemed to
meet the message。—‘No Sir—said Anne—There is no message。—
You are misin—the Admiral is misinformed。—I do justice to the
kindness of his Intentions； but he is quite mistaken。 There is no
Truth in any such report。’—He was a moment silent。—She turned
her eyes towards him for the first time since his re…entering the
room。 His colour was varying—& he was looking at her with all
the Power & Keenness； which she believed no other eyes than his；
possessed。 ‘No Truth in any such report！—he repeated。—No Truth
in any part of it？’—‘None。’—He had been standing by a chair—
enjoying the relief of leaning on it—or of playing with it；—he now
sat down—drew it a little nearer to her—& looked； with an
expression which had something more than penetration in it；
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something softer；—Her Countenance did not discourage。—It was
a silent； but a very powerful Dialogue；—on his side； Supplication；
on her’s acceptance。—Still； a little nearer—and a hand taken and
pressed—and ‘Anne； my own dear Anne！’—bursting forth in the
fullness of exquisite feeling—and all Suspense & Indecision were
over。—They were re…united。 They were restored to all that had
been lost。 They were carried back to the past； with only an
increase of attachment & confidence； & only such a flutter of
present Delight as made them little fit for the interruption of Mrs
Croft； when she joined them not long afterwards。—She probably；
in the observations of the next ten minutes； saw something to
suspect—& tho’ it was hardly possible for a woman of her
description to wish the Mantuamaker had imprisoned her longer；
she might be very likely wishing for some excuse to run about the
house； some storm to break the windows above； or a summons to
the Admiral’s Shoemaker below。—Fortune