Sir Walter, his two daughters, and Mrs Clay, were the earliest of all their party at the rooms in the
evening; and as Lady Dalrymple must be waited for, they took their station by one of the fires in the Octagon Room. But
hardly were they so settled, when the door opened again, and Captain Wentworth walked in alone. Anne was the nearest to
him, and making yet a little advance, she instantly spoke. He was preparing only to bow and pass on, but her gentle “How
do you do?” brought him out of the straight line to stand near her, and make enquiries in return, in spite of the
formidable father and sister in the back ground. Their being in the back ground was a support to Anne; she knew nothing
of their looks, and felt equal to everything which she believed right to be done.

While they were speaking, a whispering between her father and Elizabeth caught her ear. She could not distinguish, but
she must guess the subject; and on Captain Wentworth’s making a distant bow, she comprehended that her father had judged
so well as to give him that simple acknowledgement of acquaintance, and she was just in time by a side glance to see a
slight curtsey from Elizabeth herself. This, though late, and reluctant, and ungracious, was yet better than nothing, and
her spirits improved.

After talking, however, of the weather, and Bath, and the concert, their conversation began to flag, and so little was
said at last, that she was expecting him to go every moment, but he did not; he seemed in no hurry to leave her; and
presently with renewed spirit, with a little smile, a little glow, he said —

“I have hardly seen you since our day at Lyme. I am afraid you must have suffered from the shock, and the more from
its not overpowering you at the time.”

She assured him that she had not.

“It was a frightful hour,” said he, “a frightful day!” and he passed his hand across his eyes, as if the remembrance
were still too painful, but in a moment, half smiling again, added, “The day has produced some effects however; has had
some consequences which must be considered as the very reverse of frightful. When you had the presence of mind to suggest
that Benwick would be the properest person to fetch a surgeon, you could have little idea of his being eventually one of
those most concerned in her recovery.”

“Certainly I could have none. But it appears — I should hope it would be a very happy match. There are on both sides
good principles and good temper.”

“Yes,” said he, looking not exactly forward; “but there, I think, ends the resemblance. With all my soul I wish them
happy, and rejoice over every circumstance in favour of it. They have no difficulties to contend with at home, no
opposition, no caprice, no delays. The Musgroves are behaving like themselves, most honourably and kindly, only anxious
with true parental hearts to promote their daughter’s comfort. All this is much, very much in favour of their happiness;
more than perhaps —”

He stopped. A sudden recollection seemed to occur, and to give him some taste of that emotion which was reddening
Anne’s cheeks and fixing her eyes on the ground. After clearing his throat, however, he proceeded thus —

“I confess that I do think there is a disparity, too great a disparity, and in a point no less essential than mind. I
regard Louisa Musgrove as a very amiable, sweet-tempered girl, and not deficient in understanding, but Benwick is
something more. He is a clever man, a reading man; and I confess, that I do consider his attaching himself to her with
some surprise. Had it been the effect of gratitude, had he learnt to love her, because he believed her to be preferring
him, it would have been another thing. But I have no reason to suppose it so. It seems, on the contrary, to have been a
perfectly spontaneous, untaught feeling on his side, and this surprises me. A man like him, in his situation! with a
heart pierced, wounded, almost broken! Fanny Harville was a very superior creature, and his attachment to her was indeed
attachment. A man does not recover from such a devotion of the heart to such a woman. He ought not; he does not.”

Either from the consciousness, however, that his friend had recovered, or from other consciousness, he went no
farther; and Anne who, in spite of the agitated voice in which the latter part had been uttered, and in spite of all the
various noises of the room, the almost ceaseless slam of the door, and ceaseless buzz of persons walking through, had
distinguished every word, was struck, gratified, confused, and beginning to breathe very quick, and feel an hundred
things in a moment. It was impossible for her to enter on such a subject; and yet, after a pause, feeling the necessity
of speaking, and having not the smallest wish for a total change, she only deviated so far as to say —

“You were a good while at Lyme, I think?”

“About a fortnight. I could not leave it till Louisa’s doing well was quite ascertained. I had been too deeply
concerned in the mischief to be soon at peace. It had been my doing, solely mine. She would not have been obstinate if I
had not been weak. The country round Lyme is very fine. I walked and rode a great deal; and the more I saw, the more I
found to admire.”

“I should very much like to see Lyme again,” said Anne.

“Indeed! I should not have supposed that you could have found anything in Lyme to inspire such a feeling. The horror
and distress you were involved in, the stretch of mind, the wear of spirits! I should have thought your last impressions
of Lyme must have been strong disgust.”

“The last hours were certainly very painful,” replied Anne; “but when pain is over, the remembrance of it often
becomes a pleasure. One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been all suffering,
nothing but suffering, which was by no means the case at Lyme. We were only in anxiety and distress during the last two
hours, and previously there had been a great deal of enjoyment. So much novelty and beauty! I have travelled so little,
that every fresh place would be interesting to me; but there is real beauty at Lyme; and in short” (with a faint blush at
some recollections), “altogether my impressions of the place are very agreeable.”

As she ceased, the entrance door opened again, and the very party appeared for whom they were waiting. “Lady
Dalrymple, Lady Dalrymple,” was the rejoicing sound; and with all the eagerness compatible with anxious elegance, Sir
Walter and his two ladies stepped forward to meet her. Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, escorted by Mr Elliot and
Colonel Wallis, who had happened to arrive nearly at the same instant, advanced into the room. The others joined them,
and it was a group in which Anne found herself also necessarily included. She was divided from Captain Wentworth. Their
interesting, almost too interesting conversation must be broken up for a time, but slight was the penance compared with
the happiness which brought it on! She had learnt, in the last ten minutes, more of his feelings towards Louisa, more of
all his feelings than she dared to think of; and she gave herself up to the demands of the party, to the needful
civilities of the moment, with exquisite, though agitated sensations. She was in good humour with all. She had received
ideas which disposed her to be courteous and kind to all, and to pity every one, as being less happy than herself.

The delightful emotions were a little subdued, when on stepping back from the group, to be joined again by Captain
Wentworth, she saw that he was gone. She was just in time to see him turn into the Concert Room. He was gone; he had
disappeared, she felt a moment’s regret. But “they should meet again. He would look for her, he would find her out before
the evening were over, and at present, perhaps, it was as well to be asunder. She was in need of a little interval for
recollection.”

Upon Lady Russell’s appearance soon afterwards, the whole party was collected, and all that remained was to marshal
themselves, and proceed into the Concert Room; and be of all the consequence in their power, draw as many eyes, excite as
many whispers, and disturb as many people as they could.

Very, very happy were both Elizabeth and Anne Elliot as they walked in. Elizabeth arm in arm with Miss Carteret, and
looking on the broad back of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple before her, had nothing to wish for which did not seem
within her reach; and Anne — but it would be an insult to the nature of Anne’s felicity, to draw any comparison between
it and her sister’s; the origin of one all selfish vanity, of the other all generous attachment.

Anne saw nothing, thought nothing of the brilliancy of the room. Her happiness was from within. Her eyes were bright
and her cheeks glowed; but she knew nothing about it. She was thinking only of the last half hour, and as they passed to
their seats, her mind took a hasty range over it. His choice of subjects, his expressions, and still more his manner and
look, had been such as she could see in only one light. His opinion of Louisa Musgrove’s inferiority, an opinion which he
had seemed solicitous to give, his wonder at Captain Benwick, his feelings as to a first, strong attachment; sentences
begun which he could not finish, his half averted eyes and more than half expressive glance, all, all declared that he
had a heart returning to her at least; that anger, resentment, avoidance, were no more; and that they were succeeded, not
merely by friendship and regard, but by the tenderness of the past. Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past. She
could not contemplate the change as implying less. He must love her.

These were thoughts, with their attendant visions, which occupied and flurried her too much to leave her any power of
observation; and she passed along the room without having a glimpse of him, without even trying to discern him. When
their places were determined on, and they were all properly arranged, she looked round to see if he should happen to be
in the same part of the room, but he was not; her eye could not reach him; and the concert being just opening, she must
consent for a time to be happy in a humbler way.

The party was divided and disposed of on two contiguous benches: Anne was among those on the foremost, and Mr Elliot
had manoeuvred so well, with the assistance of his friend Colonel Wallis, as to have a seat by her. Miss Elliot,
surrounded by her cousins, and the principal object of Colonel Wallis’s gallantry, was quite contented.

Anne’s mind was in a most favourable state for the entertainment of the evening; it was just occupation enough: she
had feelings for the tender, spirits for the gay, attention for the scientific, and patience for the wearisome; and had
never liked a concert better, at least during the first act. Towards the close of it, in the interval succeeding an
Italian song, she explained the words of the song to Mr Elliot. They had a concert bill between them.

“This,” said she, “is nearly the sense, or rather the meaning of the words, for certainly the sense of an Italian
love-song must not be talked of, but it is as nearly the meaning as I can give; for I do not pretend to understand the
language. I am a very poor Italian scholar.”

“Yes, yes, I see you are. I see you know nothing of the matter. You have only knowledge enough of the language to
translate at sight these inverted, transposed, curtailed Italian lines, into clear, comprehensible, elegant English. You
need not say anything more of your ignorance. Here is complete proof.”

“I will not oppose such kind politeness; but I should be sorry to be examined by a real proficient.”

“I have not had the pleasure of visiting in Camden Place so long,” replied he, “without knowing something of Miss Anne
Elliot; and I do regard her as one who is too modest for the world in general to be aware of half her accomplishments,
and too highly accomplished for modesty to be natural in any other woman.”

“For shame! for shame! this is too much flattery. I forget what we are to have next,” turning to the bill.

“Perhaps,” said Mr Elliot, speaking low, “I have had a longer acquaintance with your character than you are aware
of.”

“Indeed! How so? You can have been acquainted with it only since I came to Bath, excepting as you might hear me
previously spoken of in my own family.”

“I knew you by report long before you came to Bath. I had heard you described by those who knew you intimately. I have
been acquainted with you by character many years. Your person, your disposition, accomplishments, manner; they were all
present to me.”

Mr Elliot was not disappointed in the interest he hoped to raise. No one can withstand the charm of such a mystery. To
have been described long ago to a recent acquaintance, by nameless people, is irresistible; and Anne was all curiosity.
She wondered, and questioned him eagerly; but in vain. He delighted in being asked, but he would not tell.

“No, no, some time or other, perhaps, but not now. He would mention no names now; but such, he could assure her, had
been the fact. He had many years ago received such a description of Miss Anne Elliot as had inspired him with the highest
idea of her merit, and excited the warmest curiosity to know her.”

Anne could think of no one so likely to have spoken with partiality of her many years ago as the Mr Wentworth of
Monkford, Captain Wentworth’s brother. He might have been in Mr Elliot’s company, but she had not courage to ask the
question.

“The name of Anne Elliot,” said he, “has long had an interesting sound to me. Very long has it possessed a charm over
my fancy; and, if I dared, I would breathe my wishes that the name might never change.”

Such, she believed, were his words; but scarcely had she received their sound, than her attention was caught by other
sounds immediately behind her, which rendered every thing else trivial. Her father and Lady Dalrymple were speaking.

“A well-looking man,” said Sir Walter, “a very well-looking man.”

“A very fine young man indeed!” said Lady Dalrymple. “More air than one often sees in Bath. Irish, I dare say.”

“No, I just know his name. A bowing acquaintance. Wentworth; Captain Wentworth of the navy. His sister married my
tenant in Somersetshire, the Croft, who rents Kellynch.”

Before Sir Walter had reached this point, Anne’s eyes had caught the right direction, and distinguished Captain
Wentworth standing among a cluster of men at a little distance. As her eyes fell on him, his seemed to be withdrawn from
her. It had that appearance. It seemed as if she had been one moment too late; and as long as she dared observe, he did
not look again: but the performance was recommencing, and she was forced to seem to restore her attention to the
orchestra and look straight forward.

When she could give another glance, he had moved away. He could not have come nearer to her if he would; she was so
surrounded and shut in: but she would rather have caught his eye.

Mr Elliot’s speech, too, distressed her. She had no longer any inclination to talk to him. She wished him not so near
her.

The first act was over. Now she hoped for some beneficial change; and, after a period of nothing-saying amongst the
party, some of them did decide on going in quest of tea. Anne was one of the few who did not choose to move. She remained
in her seat, and so did Lady Russell; but she had the pleasure of getting rid of Mr Elliot; and she did not mean,
whatever she might feel on Lady Russell’s account, to shrink from conversation with Captain Wentworth, if he gave her the
opportunity. She was persuaded by Lady Russell’s countenance that she had seen him.

He did not come however. Anne sometimes fancied she discerned him at a distance, but he never came. The anxious
interval wore away unproductively. The others returned, the room filled again, benches were reclaimed and repossessed,
and another hour of pleasure or of penance was to be sat out, another hour of music was to give delight or the gapes, as
real or affected taste for it prevailed. To Anne, it chiefly wore the prospect of an hour of agitation. She could not
quit that room in peace without seeing Captain Wentworth once more, without the interchange of one friendly look.

In re-settling themselves there were now many changes, the result of which was favourable for her. Colonel Wallis
declined sitting down again, and Mr Elliot was invited by Elizabeth and Miss Carteret, in a manner not to be refused, to
sit between them; and by some other removals, and a little scheming of her own, Anne was enabled to place herself much
nearer the end of the bench than she had been before, much more within reach of a passer-by. She could not do so, without
comparing herself with Miss Larolles, the inimitable Miss Larolles; but still she did it, and not with much happier
effect; though by what seemed prosperity in the shape of an early abdication in her next neighbours, she found herself at
the very end of the bench before the concert closed.

Such was her situation, with a vacant space at hand, when Captain Wentworth was again in sight. She saw him not far
off. He saw her too; yet he looked grave, and seemed irresolute, and only by very slow degrees came at last near enough
to speak to her. She felt that something must be the matter. The change was indubitable. The difference between his
present air and what it had been in the Octagon Room was strikingly great. Why was it? She thought of her father, of Lady
Russell. Could there have been any unpleasant glances? He began by speaking of the concert gravely, more like the Captain
Wentworth of Uppercross; owned himself disappointed, had expected singing; and in short, must confess that he should not
be sorry when it was over. Anne replied, and spoke in defence of the performance so well, and yet in allowance for his
feelings so pleasantly, that his countenance improved, and he replied again with almost a smile. They talked for a few
minutes more; the improvement held; he even looked down towards the bench, as if he saw a place on it well worth
occupying; when at that moment a touch on her shoulder obliged Anne to turn round. It came from Mr Elliot. He begged her
pardon, but she must be applied to, to explain Italian again. Miss Carteret was very anxious to have a general idea of
what was next to be sung. Anne could not refuse; but never had she sacrificed to politeness with a more suffering
spirit.

A few minutes, though as few as possible, were inevitably consumed; and when her own mistress again, when able to turn
and look as she had done before, she found herself accosted by Captain Wentworth, in a reserved yet hurried sort of
farewell. “He must wish her good night; he was going; he should get home as fast as he could.”

“Is not this song worth staying for?” said Anne, suddenly struck by an idea which made her yet more anxious to be
encouraging.

“No!” he replied impressively, “there is nothing worth my staying for;” and he was gone directly.

Jealousy of Mr Elliot! It was the only intelligible motive. Captain Wentworth jealous of her affection! Could she have
believed it a week ago; three hours ago! For a moment the gratification was exquisite. But, alas! there were very
different thoughts to succeed. How was such jealousy to be quieted? How was the truth to reach him? How, in all the
peculiar disadvantages of their respective situations, would he ever learn of her real sentiments? It was misery to think
of Mr Elliot’s attentions. Their evil was incalculable.