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might bear the investigation of his present keener time of life was
another concern and rather a fearful one。 Most earnestly did she
wish that he might not be too nice； or too observant if Elizabeth
were his object； and that Elizabeth was disposed to believe herself
so； and that her friend Mrs。 Clay was encouraging the idea；
seemed apparent by a glance or two between them； while Mr。
Elliot’s frequent visits were talked of。
Anne mentioned the glimpses she had had of him at Lyme； but
without being much attended to。 “Oh！ yes； perhaps； it had been
Mr。 Elliot。 They did not know。 It might be him； perhaps。” They
could not listen to her description of him。 They were describing
him themselves； Sir Walter especially。 He did justice to his very
gentlemanlike appearance； his air of elegance and fashion； his
good shaped face； his sensible eye； but； at the same time； “must
lament his being very much under…hung； a defect which time
seemed to have increased； nor could he pretend to say that ten
years had not altered almost every feature for the worse。 Mr。 Elliot
appeared to think that he （Sir Walter） was looking exactly as he
had done when they last parted；” but Sir Walter had “not been
able to return the compliment entirely； which had embarrassed
him。 He did not mean to complain； however。 Mr。 Elliot was better
to look at than most men； and he had no objection to being seen
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with him any where。”
Mr。 Elliot； and his friends in Marlborough Buildings； were
talked of the whole evening。 “Colonel Wallis had been so impatient
to be introduced to them！ and Mr。 Elliot so anxious that he
should！” And there was a Mrs。 Wallis； at present known only to
them by description； as she was in daily expectation of her
confinement； but Mr。 Elliot spoke of her as “a most charming
woman； quite worthy of being known in Camden…place；” and as
soon as she recovered they were to be acquainted。 Sir Walter
thought much of Mrs。 Wallis； she was said to be an excessively
pretty woman； beautiful。 “He longed to see her。 He hoped she
might make some amends for the many very plain faces he was
continually passing in the streets。 The worst of Bath was the
number of its plain women。 He did not mean to say that there
were no pretty women； but the number of the plain was out of all
proportion。 He had frequently observed； as he walked； that one
handsome face would be followed by thirty； or five…and…thirty
frights； and once； as he had stood in a shop on Bond…street； he had
counted eighty…seven women go by； one after another； without
there being a tolerable face among them。 It had been a frosty
morning； to be sure； a sharp frost； which hardly one woman in a
thousand could stand the test of。 But still； there certainly were a
dreadful multitude of ugly women in Bath； and as for the men！
they were infinitely worse。 Such scarecrows as the streets were
full of！ It was evident how little the women were used to the sight
of anything tolerable； by the effect which a man of decent
appearance produced。 He had never walked anywhere arm…in…arm
with Colonel Wallis （who was a fine military figure； though sandy…
haired） without observing that every woman’s eye was upon him；
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 160
every woman’s eye was sure to be upon Colonel Wallis。” Modest
Sir Walter！ He was not allowed to escape； however。 His daughter
and Mrs。 Clay united in hinting that Colonel Wallis’s companion
might have as good a figure as Colonel Wallis； and certainly was
not sandy…haired。
“How is Mary looking？” said Sir Walter； in the height of his
good humour。 “The last time I saw her she had a red nose； but I
hope that may not happen every day。”
“Oh！ no； that must have been quite accidental。 In general she
has been in very good health and very good looks since
Michaelmas。”
“If I thought it would not tempt her to go out in sharp winds；
and grow coarse； I would send her a new hat and pelisse。”
Anne was considering whether she should venture to suggest
that a gown； or a cap； would not be liable to any such misuse；
when a knock at the door suspended everything。 “A knock at the
door！ and so late！ It was ten o’clock。 Could it be Mr。 Elliot？ They
knew he was to dine in Lansdown Crescent。 It was possible that he
might stop in his way home to ask them how they did。 They could
think of no one else。 Mrs。 Clay decidedly thought it Mr。 Elliot’s
knock。” Mrs。 Clay was right。 With all the state which a butler and
foot…boy could give； Mr。 Elliot was ushered into the room。
It was the same； the very same man； with no difference but of
dress。 Anne drew a little back； while the others received his
compliments； and her sister his apologies for calling at so unusual
an hour； but “he could not be so near without wishing to know
that neither she nor her friend had taken cold the day before； &c。
&c。” which was all as politely done； and as politely taken； as
possible； but her part must follow then。 Sir Walter talked of his
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 161
youngest daughter； “Mr。 Elliot must give him leave to present him
to his youngest daughter”—（there was no occasion for
remembering Mary） and Anne； smiling and blushing； very
becomingly shewed to Mr。 Elliot the pretty features which he had
by no means forgotten； and instantly saw； with amusement at his
little start of surprise； that he had not been at all aware of who she
was。 He looked completely astonished； but not more astonished
than pleased； his eyes brightened； and with the most perfect
alacrity he welcomed the relationship； alluded to the past； and
entreated to be received as an acquaintance already。 He was quite
as good…looking as he had appeared at Lyme； his countenance
improved by speaking； and his manners were so exactly what they
ought to be； so polished； so easy； so particularly agreeable； that
she could compare them in excellence to only one person’s
manners。 They were not the same； but they were； perhaps； equally
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
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen