Chapter 8

           FromthistimeCaptainWentworthandAnneElliotwererepeatedlyinthesamecircle.TheyweresoondiningincompanytogetheratMrMusgrove’s,forthelittleboy’sstatecouldnolongersupplyhisauntwithapretenceforabsentingherself;andthiswasbutthebeginningofotherdiningsandothermeetings.

           Whetherformerfeelingsweretoberenewedmustbebroughttotheproof;formertimesmustundoubtedlybebroughttotherecollectionofeach;theycouldnotbutberevertedto;theyearoftheirengagementcouldnotbutbenamedbyhim,inthelittlenarrativesordescriptionswhichconversationcalledforth.Hisprofessionqualifiedhim,hisdispositionleadhim,totalk;and“Thatwasintheyearsix;”“ThathappenedbeforeIwenttoseaintheyearsix,”occurredinthecourseofthefirsteveningtheyspenttogether:andthoughhisvoicedidnotfalter,andthoughshehadnoreasontosupposehiseyewanderingtowardsherwhilehespoke,Annefelttheutterimpossibility,fromherknowledgeofhismind,thathecouldbeunvisitedbyremembranceanymorethanherself.Theremustbethesameimmediateassociationofthought,thoughshewasveryfarfromconceivingittobeofequalpain.

           Theyhadnoconversationtogether,nointercoursebutwhatthecommonestcivilityrequired.Oncesomuchtoeachother!Nownothing!Therehadbeenatime,whenofallthelargepartynowfillingthedrawing-roomatUppercross,theywouldhavefounditmostdifficulttoceasetospeaktooneanother.