Mrs Croft, though neither tall nor fat, had a squareness, uprightness,

and vigour of form, which gave importance to her person. She had

bright dark eyes, good teeth, and altogether an agreeable face; though

her reddened and weather-beaten complexion, the consequence of her

having been almost as much at sea as her husband, made her seem to have

lived some years longer in the world than her real eight-and-thirty.

Her manners were open, easy, and decided, like one who had no distrust

of herself, and no doubts of what to do; without any approach to

coarseness, however, or any want of good humour. Anne gave her credit,

indeed, for feelings of great consideration towards herself, in all

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that related to Kellynch, and it pleased her: especially, as she had

satisfied herself in the very first half minute, in the instant even of

introduction, that there was not the smallest symptom of any knowledge

or suspicion on Mrs Croft's side, to give a bias of any sort. She was

quite easy on that head, and consequently full of strength and courage,

till for a moment electrified by Mrs Croft's suddenly saying,-"It was you, and not your sister, I find, that my brother had the

pleasure of being acquainted with, when he was in this country."

Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing; but the age of emotion

she certainly had not.

"Perhaps you may not have heard that he is married?" added Mrs Croft.

She could now answer as she ought; and was happy to feel, when Mrs

Croft's next words explained it to be Mr Wentworth of whom she spoke,

that she had said nothing which might not do for either brother. She

immediately felt how reasonable it was, that Mrs Croft should be

thinking and speaking of Edward, and not of Frederick; and with shame

at her own forgetfulness applied herself to the knowledge of their

former neighbour's present state with proper interest.

The rest was all tranquillity; till, just as they were moving, she

heard the Admiral say to Mary-"We are expecting a brother of Mrs Croft's here soon; I dare say you

know him by name."

He was cut short by the eager attacks of the little boys, clinging to

him like an old friend, and declaring he should not go; and being too

much engrossed by proposals of carrying them away in his coat pockets,

&c., to have another moment for finishing or recollecting what he had

begun, Anne was left to persuade herself, as well as she could, that

the same brother must still be in question. She could not, however,

reach such a degree of certainty, as not to be anxious to hear whether

anything had been said on the subject at the other house, where the

Crofts had previously been calling.




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