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that revolts other people； low company； paltry rooms； foul air；
disgusting associations are inviting to you。 But surely you may put
off this old lady till to…morrow。 She is not so near her end； I
presume； but that she may hope to see another day。 What is her
age？ Forty？”
“No； Sir； she is not one…and…thirty； but I do not think I can put
off my engagement； because it is the only evening for some time
which will at once suit her and myself。—She goes into the warm
bath to…morrow； and for the rest of the week； you know； we are
engaged。”
“But what does Lady Russell think of this acquaintance？”
asked Elizabeth。
“She sees nothing to blame in it；” replied Anne； “on the
contrary； she approves it； and has generally taken me； when I have
called on Mrs。 Smith。
“Westgate…buildings must have been rather surprised by the
appearance of a carriage drawn up near its pavement；” observed
Sir Walter。—“Sir Henry Russell’s widow； indeed； has no honours
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to distinguish her arms； but still it is a handsome equipage； and no
doubt is well known to convey a Miss Elliot。—A widow Mrs。 Smith
lodging in Westgate…buildings！ A poor widow barely able to live；
between thirty and forty—a mere Mrs。 Smith； an every…day Mrs。
Smith； of all people and all names in the world； to be the chosen
friend of Miss Anne Elliot； and to be preferred by her to her own
family connections among the nobility of England and Ireland！
Mrs。 Smith！ Such a name！”
Mrs。 Clay； who had been present while all this passed； now
thought it advisable to leave the room； and Anne could have said
much； and did long to say a little in defence of her friend’s not very
dissimilar claims to theirs； but her sense of personal respect to her
father prevented her。 She made no reply。 She left it to himself to
recollect； that Mrs。 Smith was not the only widow in Bath between
thirty and forty； with little to live on； and no sirname of dignity。
Anne kept her appointment； the others kept theirs； and of
course she heard the next morning that they had had a delightful
evening。—She had been the only one of the set absent； for Sir
Walter and Elizabeth had not only been quite at her ladyship’s
service themselves； but had actually been happy to be employed
by her in collecting others； and had been at the trouble of inviting
both Lady Russell and Mr。 Elliot； and Mr。 Elliot had made a point
of leaving Colonel Wallis early； and Lady Russell had fresh
arranged all her evening engagements in order to wait on her。
Anne had the whole history of all that such an evening could
supply from Lady Russell。 To her； its greatest interest must be； in
having been very much talked of between her friend and Mr。
Elliot； in having been wished for； regretted； and at the same time
honoured for staying away in such a cause。—Her kind；
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compassionate visits to this old schoolfellow； sick and reduced；
seemed to have quite delighted Mr。 Elliot。 He thought her a most
extraordinary young woman； in her temper； manners； mind； a
model of female excellence。 He could meet even Lady Russell in a
discussion of her merits； and Anne could not be given to
understand so much by her friend； could not know herself to be so
highly rated by a sensible man； without many of those agreeable
sensations which her friend meant to create。
Lady Russell was now perfectly decided in her opinion of Mr。
Elliot。 She was as much convinced of his meaning to gain Anne in
time as of his deserving her； and was beginning to calculate the
number of weeks which would free him from all the remaining
restraints of widowhood； and leave him at liberty to exert his most
open powers of pleasing。 She would not speak to Anne with half
the certainty she felt on the subject； she would venture on little
more than hints of what might be hereafter； of a possible
attachment on his side； of the desirableness of the alliance；
supposing such attachment to be real and returned。 Anne heard
her； and made no violent exclamations。 She only smiled； blushed；
and gently shook her head。
“I am no match…maker； as you well know；” said Lady Russell；
“being much too well aware of the uncertainty of all human events
and calculations。 I only mean that if Mr。 Elliot should some time
hence pay his addresses to you； and if you should be disposed to
accept him； I think there would be every possibility of your being
happy together。 A most suitable connection everybody must
consider it—but I think it might be a very happy one。”
“Mr。 Elliot is an exceedingly agreeable man； and in many
respects I think highly of him；” said Anne； “but we should not
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suit。”
Lady Russell let this pass； and only said in rejoinder； “I own
that to be able to regard you as the future mistress of Kellynch； the
future Lady Elliot—to look forward and see you occupying your
dear mother’s place； succeeding to all her rights； and all her
popularity； as well as to all her virtues； would be the highest
possible gratification to me。—You are your mother’s self in
countenance and disposition； and if I might be allowed to fancy
you such as she was； in situation and name； and home； presiding
and blessing in the same spot； and only superior to her in being
more highly valued！ My dearest Anne； it would give me more
delight than is often felt at my time of life！”
Anne was obliged to turn away； to rise； to walk to a distant
table； and； leaning there in pretended employment； try to subdue
the feelings this picture excited。 For a few moments her
imagination and her heart were bewitched。 The idea of becoming
what her mother had been； of having the precious name of “Lady
Elliot” first revived in herself； of being restored to Kellynch；
calling it her home again； her home for ever； was a charm which
she could not immediately resist。 Lady Russell said not another
word； willing to leave the matter to its own operation； and
believing that； could Mr。 Elliot at that moment with propriety have
spoken for himself！—She believed； in short； what Anne did not
believe。 The same image of Mr。 Elliot speaking for himself brought
Anne to composure again。 The charm of Kellynch and of “Lady
Elliot” all faded away。 She never could accept him。 And it was not
only that her feelings were still adverse to any man save one； her
judgment； on a serious consideration of the possibilities of such a
case； was against Mr。 Elliot。
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Though they had now been acquainted a month； she could not
be satisfied that she really knew his character。 That he was a
sensible man； an agreeable man；—that he talked well； professed
good opinions； seemed to judge properly and as a man of
principle；—this was all clear enough。 He certainly knew what was
right； nor could she fix on any one article of moral duty evidently
transgressed； but yet she would have been afraid to answer for his
conduct。 She distrusted the past； if not the pres