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might not yet have made the offer； and I could no more speak the
truth of him； than if he had been your husband。 My heart bled for
you； as I talked of happiness； and yet he is sensible； he is
agreeable； and with such a woman as you； it was not absolutely
hopeless。 He was very unkind to his first wife。 They were wretched
together。 But she was too ignorant and giddy for respect； and he
had never loved her。 I was willing to hope that you must fare
better。”
Anne could just acknowledge within herself such a possibility of
having been induced to marry him； as made her shudder at the
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idea of the misery which must have followed。 It was just possible
that she might have been persuaded by Lady Russell！ And under
such a supposition； which would have been most miserable； when
time had disclosed all； too late？
It was very desirable that Lady Russell should be no longer
deceived； and one of the concluding arrangements of this
important conference； which carried them through the greater
part of the morning； was； that Anne had full liberty to
communicate to her friend everything relative to Mrs。 Smith； in
which his conduct was involved。
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CHAPTER X
nne went home to think over all that she had heard。 In
Aone point； her feelings were relieved by this knowledge of
Mr。 Elliot。 There was no longer anything of tenderness
due to him。 He stood； as opposed to Captain Wentworth； in all his
own unwelcome obtrusiveness； and the evil of his attentions last
night； the irremediable mischief he might have done； was
considered with sensations unqualified； unperplexed。—Pity for
him was all over。 But this was the only point of relief。 In every
other respect； in looking around her； or penetrating forward； she
saw more to distrust and to apprehend。 She was concerned for the
disappointment and pain Lady Russell would be feeling； for the
mortifications which must be hanging over her father and sister；
and had all the distress of foreseeing many evils； without knowing
how to avert any one of them。—She was most thankful for her own
knowledge of him。 She had never considered herself as entitled to
reward for not slighting an old friend like Mrs。 Smith； but here
was a reward indeed springing from it！—Mrs。 Smith had been able
to tell her what no one else could have done。 Could the knowledge
have been extended through her family？—But this was a vain
idea。 She must talk to Lady Russell； tell her； consult with her； and
having done her best； wait the event with as much composure as
possible； and after all； her greatest want of composure would be in
that quarter of the mind which could not be opened to Lady
Russell； in that flow of anxieties and fears which must be all to
herself。
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She found； on reaching home； that she had； as she intended；
escaped seeing Mr。 Elliot； that he had called and paid them a long
morning visit； but hardly had she congratulated herself； and felt
safe； when she heard that he was coming again in the evening。
“I had not the smallest intention of asking him；” said Elizabeth；
with affected carelessness； “but he gave so many hints； so Mrs。
Clay says； at least。”
“Indeed； I do say it。 I never saw anybody in my life spell harder
for an invitation。 Poor man！ I was really in pain for him； for your
hard…hearted sister； Miss Anne； seems bent on cruelty。”
“Oh！” cried Elizabeth； “I have been rather too much used to the
game to be soon overcome by a gentleman’s hints。 However； when
I found how excessively he was regretting that he should miss my
father this morning； I gave way immediately； for I would never
really omit an opportunity of bringing him and Sir Walter
together。 They appear to so much advantage in company with
each other！ Each behaving so pleasantly！ Mr。 Elliot looking up
with so much respect！”
“Quite delightful！” cried Mrs。 Clay； not daring； however； to turn
her eyes towards Anne。 “Exactly like father and son！ Dear Miss
Elliot； may I not say father and son？”
“Oh！ I lay no embargo on any body’s words。 If you will have
such ideas！ But； upon my word； I am scarcely sensible of his
attentions being beyond those of other men。”
“My dear Miss Elliot！” exclaimed Mrs。 Clay； lifting her hands
and eyes； and sinking all the rest of her astonishment in a
convenient silence。
“Well； my dear Penelope； you need not be so alarmed about
him。 I did invite him； you know。 I sent him away with smiles。
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When I found he was really going to his friends at Thornberry
Park for the whole day to…morrow； I had compassion on him。”
Anne admired the good acting of the friend； in being able to
shew such pleasure as she did； in the expectation and in the actual
arrival of the very person whose presence must really be
interfering with her prime object。 It was impossible but that Mrs。
Clay must hate the sight of Mr。 Elliot； and yet she could assume a
most obliging； placid look； and appear quite satisfied with the
curtailed license of devoting herself only half as much to Sir
Walter as she would have done otherwise。
To Anne herself it was most distressing to see Mr。 Elliot enter
the room； and quite painful to have him approach and speak to
her。 She had been used before to feel that he could not be always
quite sincere； but now she saw insincerity in every thing。 His
attentive deference to her father； contrasted with his former
language； was odious； and when she thought of his cruel conduct
towards Mrs。 Smith； she could hardly bear the sight of his present
smiles and mildness； or the sound of his artificial good sentiments。
She meant to avoid any such alteration of manners as might
provoke a remonstrance on his side。 It was a great object to her to
escape all enquiry or eclat； but it was her intention to be as
decidedly cool to him as might be compatible with their
relationship； and to retrace； as quietly as she could； the few steps
of unnecessary intimacy she had been gradually led along。 She
was accordingly more guarded； and more cool； than she had been
the night before。
He wanted to animate her curiosity again as to how and where
he could have heard her formerly praised； wanted very much to be
gratified by more solicitation； but the charm was broken： he found
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that the heat and animation of a public room was necessary to
kindle his modest cousin’s vanity； he found； at least； that it was not
to be done now； by any of those attempts which he could hazard
among the too…commanding claims of the others。 He little
surmised that it was a subject acting now exactly against his
interest； bringing immediately to her thoughts all those parts of
his conduct which were least excusab