Chapter 23

           OnedayonlyhadpassedsinceAnne’sconversationwithMrsSmith;butakeenerinteresthadsucceeded,andshewasnowsolittletouchedbyMrElliot’sconduct,exceptbyitseffectsinonequarter,thatitbecameamatterofcoursethenextmorning,stilltodeferherexplanatoryvisitinRiversStreet.ShehadpromisedtobewiththeMusgrovesfrombreakfasttodinner.Herfaithwasplighted,andMrElliot’scharacter,liketheSultanessScheherazade’shead,mustliveanotherday.

           Shecouldnotkeepherappointmentpunctually,however;theweatherwasunfavourable,andshehadgrievedovertherainonherfriends’account,andfeltitverymuchonherown,beforeshewasabletoattemptthewalk.WhenshereachedtheWhiteHart,andmadeherwaytotheproperapartment,shefoundherselfneitherarrivingquiteintime,northefirsttoarrive.Thepartybeforeherwere,MrsMusgrove,talkingtoMrsCroft,andCaptainHarvilletoCaptainWentworth;andsheimmediatelyheardthatMaryandHenrietta,tooimpatienttowait,hadgoneoutthemomentithadcleared,butwouldbebackagainsoon,andthatthestrictestinjunctionshadbeenleftwithMrsMusgrovetokeephertheretilltheyreturned.Shehadonlytosubmit,sitdown,beoutwardlycomposed,andfeelherselfplungedatonceinalltheagitationswhichshehadmerelylaidheraccountoftastingalittlebeforethemorningclosed.Therewasnodelay,nowasteoftime.Shewasdeepinthehappinessofsuchmisery,orthemiseryofsuchhappiness,instantly.