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better not be attempted； perhaps。”
She had spoken it； but she trembled when it was done；
conscious that her words were listened to； and daring not even to
try to observe their effect。
It was soon generally agreed that Tuesday should be the day；
Charles only reserving the advantage of still teasing his wife； by
persisting that he would go to the play to…morrow if nobody else
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would。
Captain Wentworth left his seat； and walked to the fire…place；
probably for the sake of walking away from it soon afterwards； and
taking a station； with less bare…faced design； by Anne。
“You have not been long enough in Bath；” said he； “to enjoy the
evening parties of the place。”
“Oh！ no。 The usual character of them has nothing for me。 I am
no card…player。”
“You were not formerly； I know。 You did not use to like cards；
but time makes many changes。”
“I am not yet so much changed；” cried Anne； and stopped；
fearing she hardly knew what misconstruction。 After waiting a few
moments he said—and as if it were the result of immediate
feeling—“It is a period； indeed！ Eight years and a half is a period。”
Whether he would have proceeded farther was left to Anne’s
imagination to ponder over in a calmer hour； for while still hearing
the sounds he had uttered； she was startled to other subjects by
Henrietta； eager to make use of the present leisure for getting out；
and calling on her companions to lose no time； lest somebody else
should come in。
They were obliged to move。 Anne talked of being perfectly
ready； and tried to look it； but she felt that could Henrietta have
known the regret and reluctance of her heart in quitting that
chair； in preparing to quit the room； she would have found； in all
her own sensations for her cousin； in the very security of his
affection； wherewith to pity her。
Their preparations； however； were stopped short。 Alarming
sounds were heard； other visitors approached； and the door was
thrown open for Sir Walter and Miss Elliot； whose entrance
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seemed to give a general chill。 Anne felt an instant oppression； and
wherever she looked saw symptoms of the same。 The comfort； the
freedom； the gaiety of the room was over； hushed into cold
composure； determined silence； or insipid talk； to meet the
heartless elegance of her father and sister。 How mortifying to feel
that it was so！
Her jealous eye was satisfied in one particular。 Captain
Wentworth was acknowledged again by each； by Elizabeth more
graciously than before。 She even addressed him once； and looked
at him more than once。 Elizabeth was； in fact； revolving a great
measure。 The sequel explained it。 After the waste of a few minutes
in saying the proper nothings； she began to give the invitation
which was to comprise all the remaining dues of the Musgroves。
“To…morrow evening； to meet a few friends： no formal party。” It
was all said very gracefully； and the cards with which she had
provided herself； the “Miss Elliot at home；” were laid on the table；
with a courteous； comprehensive smile to all； and one smile and
one card more decidedly for Captain Wentworth。 The truth was；
that Elizabeth had been long enough in Bath to understand the
importance of a man of such an air and appearance as his。 The
past was nothing。 The present was that Captain Wentworth would
move about well in her drawing…room。 The card was pointedly
given； and Sir Walter and Elizabeth arose and disappeared。
The interruption had been short； though severe； and ease and
animation returned to most of those they left as the door shut
them out； but not to Anne。 She could think only of the invitation
she had with such astonishment witnessed； and of the manner in
which it had been received； a manner of doubtful meaning； of
surprise rather than gratification； of polite acknowledgement
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rather than acceptance。 She knew him； she saw disdain in his eye；
and could not venture to believe that he had determined to accept
such an offering； as an atonement for all the insolence of the past。
Her spirits sank。 He held the card in his hand after they were
gone； as if deeply considering it。
“Only think of Elizabeth’s including everybody！” whispered
Mary very audibly。 “I do not wonder Captain Wentworth is
delighted！ You see he cannot put the card out of his hand。”
Anne caught his eye； saw his cheeks glow； and his mouth form
itself into a momentary expression of contempt； and turned away；
that she might neither see nor hear more to vex her。
The party separated。 The gentlemen had their own pursuits；
the ladies proceeded on their own business； and they met no more
while Anne belonged to them。 She was earnestly begged to return
and dine； and give them all the rest of the day； but her spirits had
been so long exerted that at present she felt unequal to more； and
fit only for home； where she might be sure of being as silent as she
chose。
Promising to be with them the whole of the following morning；
therefore； she closed the fatigues of the present by a toilsome walk
to Camden…place； there to spend the evening chiefly in listening to
the busy arrangements of Elizabeth and Mrs。 Clay for the
morrow’s party； the frequent enumeration of the persons invited；
and the continually improving detail of all the embellishments
which were to make it the most completely elegant of its kind in
Bath； while harassing herself with the never…ending question； of
whether Captain Wentworth would come or not？ They were
reckoning him as certain； but with her it was a gnawing solicitude
never appeased for five minutes together。 She generally thought
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he would come； because she generally thought he ought； but it was
a case which she could not so shape into any positive act of duty or
discretion； as inevitably to defy the suggestions of very opposite
feelings。
She only roused herself from the broodings of this restless
agitation； to let Mrs。 Clay know that she had been seen with Mr。
Elliot three hours after his being supposed to be out of Bath； for
having watched in vain for some intimation of the interview from
the lady herself； she determined to mention it； and it seemed to
her there was guilt in Mrs。 Clay’s face as she listened。 It was
transient； cleared away in an instant； but Anne could imagine she
read there the consciousness of having； by some complication of
mutual trick； or some overbearing authority of his； been obliged to
attend （perhaps for half an hour） to his lectures and restrictions on
her designs on Sir Walter。 She exclaimed； however； with a very
tolerable imitation of nature；
“Oh dear！ very true。 Only think； Miss Elliot； to my great
surprise I met with Mr。 Elliot in Bath…street！ I was never more
astonished。 He turned back and walked with me to the Pump
Yard。 He had been prevented setting off for Thornberry； but I
really forget by what—for I was in a hurry； and could not much
attend； and I can only answer fo