Chapter 10

           Otheropportunitiesofmakingherobservationscouldnotfailtooccur.Annehadsoonbeenincompanywithallthefourtogetheroftenenoughtohaveanopinion,thoughtoowisetoacknowledgeasmuchathome,wheresheknewitwouldhavesatisfiedneitherhusbandnorwife;forwhilesheconsideredLouisatoberatherthefavourite,shecouldnotbutthink,asfarasshemightdaretojudgefrommemoryandexperience,thatCaptainWentworthwasnotinlovewitheither.Theyweremoreinlovewithhim;yetthereitwasnotlove.Itwasalittlefeverofadmiration;butitmight,probablymust,endinlovewithsome.CharlesHayterseemedawareofbeingslighted,andyetHenriettahadsometimestheairofbeingdividedbetweenthem.Annelongedforthepowerofrepresentingtothemallwhattheywereabout,andofpointingoutsomeoftheevilstheywereexposingthemselvesto.Shedidnotattributeguiletoany.ItwasthehighestsatisfactiontohertobelieveCaptainWentworthnotintheleastawareofthepainhewasoccasioning.Therewasnotriumph,nopitifultriumphinhismanner.Hehad,probably,neverheard,andneverthoughtofanyclaimsofCharlesHayter.Hewasonlywronginacceptingtheattentions(foracceptingmustbetheword)oftwoyoungwomenatonce.

           Afterashortstruggle,however,CharlesHayterseemedtoquitthefield.ThreedayshadpassedwithouthiscomingoncetoUppercross;amostdecidedchange.