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placed—that is； for hearing； I must not say for seeing； because I
appear to have seen very little。”
“Oh！ you saw enough for your own amusement。—I can
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understand。 There is a sort of domestic enjoyment to be known
even in a crowd； and this you had。 You were a large party in
yourselves； and you wanted nothing beyond。”
“But I ought to have looked about me more；” said Anne；
conscious while she spoke that there had in fact been no want of
looking about； that the object only had been deficient。
“No； no—you were better employed。 You need not tell me that
you had a pleasant evening。 I see it in your eye。 I perfectly see how
the hours passed—that you had always something agreeable to
listen to。 In the intervals of the concert it was conversation。
Anne half smiled and said； “Do you see that in my eye？”
“Yes； I do。 Your countenance perfectly informs me that you
were in company last night with the person whom you think the
most agreeable in the world； the person who interests you at this
present time more than all the rest of the world put together。”
A blush overspread Anne’s cheeks。 She could say nothing。
“And such being the case；” continued Mrs。 Smith； after a short
pause； “I hope you believe that I do know how to value your
kindness in coming to me this morning。 It is really very good of
you to come and sit with me； when you must have so many
pleasanter demands upon your time。”
Anne heard nothing of this。 She was still in the astonishment
and confusion excited by her friend’s penetration； unable to
imagine how any report of Captain Wentworth could have reached
her。 After another short silence—
“Pray；” said Mrs。 Smith； “is Mr。 Elliot aware of your
acquaintance with me？ Does he know that I am in Bath？”
“Mr。 Elliot！” repeated Anne； looking up surprised。 A moment’s
reflection shewed her the mistake she had been under。 She caught
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it instantaneously； and recovering her courage with the feeling of
safety； soon added； more composedly； “Are you acquainted with
Mr。 Elliot？”
“I have been a good deal acquainted with him；” replied Mrs。
Smith； gravely； “but it seems worn out now。 It is a great while
since we met。”
“I was not at all aware of this。 You never mentioned it before。
Had I known it； I would have had the pleasure of talking to him
about you。”
“To confess the truth；” said Mrs。 Smith； assuming her usual air
of cheerfulness； “that is exactly the pleasure I want you to have。 I
want you to talk about me to Mr。 Elliot。 I want your interest with
him。 He can be of essential service to me； and if you would have
the goodness； my dear Miss Elliot； to make it an object to yourself；
of course it is done。”
“I should be extremely happy—I hope you cannot doubt my
willingness to be of even the slightest use to you；” replied Anne；
“but I suspect that you are considering me as having a higher
claim on Mr。 Elliot—a greater right to influence him； than is really
the case。 I am sure you have； somehow or other； imbibed such a
notion。 You must consider me only as Mr。 Elliot’s relation。 If in
that light there is anything which you suppose his cousin might
fairly ask of him； I beg you would not hesitate to employ me。”
Mrs。 Smith gave her a penetrating glance； and then； smiling；
said—
“I have been a little premature； I perceive。 I beg your pardon。 I
ought to have waited for official information。 But now； my dear
Miss Elliot； as an old friend； do give me a hint as to when I may
speak。 Next week？ To be sure by next week I may be allowed to
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think it all settled； and build my own selfish schemes on Mr。
Elliot’s good fortune。”
“No；” replied Anne； “nor next week； nor next； nor next。 I assure
you that nothing of the sort you are thinking of will be settled any
week。 I am not going to marry Mr。 Elliot。 I should like to know
why you imagine I am？”
Mrs。 Smith looked at her again； looked earnestly； smiled； shook
her head； and exclaimed—
“Now； how I do wish I understood you！ How I do wish I knew
what you were at！ I have a great idea that you do not design to be
cruel； when the right moment occurs。 Till it does come； you know；
we women never mean to have anybody。 It is a thing of course
among us； that every man is refused—till he offers。 But why
should you be cruel？ Let me plead for my—present friend I cannot
call him—but for my former friend。 Where can you look for a more
suitable match？ Where could you expect a more gentlemanlike；
agreeable man？ Let me recommend Mr。 Elliot。 I am sure you hear
nothing but good of him from Colonel Wallis； and who can know
him better than Colonel Wallis？”
“My dear Mrs。 Smith； Mr。 Elliot’s wife has not been dead much
above half a year。 He ought not to be supposed to be paying his
addresses to any one。”
“Oh！ if these are your only objections；” cried Mrs。 Smith；
archly； “Mr。 Elliot is safe； and I shall give myself no more trouble
about him。 Do not forget me when you are married； that’s all。 Let
him know me to be a friend of yours； and then he will think little of
the trouble required； which it is very natural for him now； with so
many affairs and engagements of his own； to avoid and get rid of
as he can—very natural； perhaps。 Ninety…nine out of a hundred
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would do the same。 Of course； he cannot be aware of the
importance to me。 Well； my dear Miss Elliot； I hope and trust you
will be very happy。 Mr。 Elliot has sense to understand the value of
such a woman。 Your peace will not be shipwrecked as mine has
been。 You are safe in all worldly matters； and safe in his character。
He will not be led astray； he will not be misled by others to his
ruin。”
“No；” said Anne； “I can readily believe all that of my cousin。 He
seems to have a calm decided temper； not at all open to dangerous
impressions。 I consider him with great respect。 I have no reason；
from any thing that has fallen within my observation； to do
otherwise。 But I have not known him long； and he is not a man； I
think； to be known intimately soon。 Will not this manner of
speaking of him； Mrs。 Smith； convince you that he is nothing to
me？ Surely this must be calm enough。 And； upon my word； he is
nothing to me。 Should he ever propose to me （which I have very
little reason to imagine he has any thought of doing）； I shall not
accept him。 I assure you I shall not。 I assure you Mr。 Elliot had not
the share which you have been supposing； in whatever pleasure
the concert of last night might afford：—not Mr。 Elliot； it is not Mr。
Elliot that—”
She stopped； regretting with a deep blush that she had implied
so much； but less would hardly have been sufficient。 Mrs。 Smith
would hardly have believed so soon in Mr。 Elliot’s failure； but from
the perception of there being a somebody else。 As it was； she
instantly submitted； and with all the semblance of seeing nothing
beyond； and Anne； eager to escape farther notice； was impatient to
know why Mrs。 Smith should have fancied she was to marry Mr。
Elliot； where she could have received the idea； or from whom she
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