Anne was too much engaged with Lady Russell to be often walking herself; but it so happened that one morning, about a week or ten days after the Croft’s arrival, it suited her best to leave her friend, or her friend’s carriage, in the lower part of the town, and return alone to Camden Place, and in walking up Milsom Street she had the good fortune to meet with the Admiral.  He was standing by himself at a printshop window, with his hands behind him, in earnest contemplation of some print, and she not only might have passed him unseen, but was obliged to touch as well as address him before she could catch his notice.  When he did perceive and acknowledge her, however, it was done with all his usual frankness and good humour.  “Ha! is it you?  Thank you, thank you.  This is treating me like a friend.  Here I am, you see, staring at a picture.  I can never get by this shop without stopping.  But what a thing here is, by way of a boat!  Do look at it.  Did you ever see the like?  What queer fellows your fine painters must be, to think that anybody would venture their lives in such a shapeless old cockleshell as that?  And yet here are two gentlemen stuck up in it mightily at their ease, and looking about them at the rocks and mountains, as if they were not to be upset the next moment, which they certainly must be.  I wonder where that boat was built!” (laughing heartily); “I would not venture over a horsepond in it.  Well,” (turning away), “now, where are you bound?  Can I go anywhere for you, or with you?  Can I be of any use?”

“None, I thank you, unless you will give me the pleasure of your company the little way our road lies together.  I am going home.”

“That I will, with all my heart, and farther, too.  Yes, yes we will have a snug walk together, and I have something to tell you as we go along.  There, take my arm; that’s right; I do not feel comfortable if I have not a woman there.  Lord! what a boat it is!” taking a last look at the picture, as they began to be in motion.

“Did you say that you had something to tell me, sir?”

“Yes, I have, presently.  But here comes a friend, Captain Brigden; I shall only say, `How d’ye do?’ as we pass, however.  I shall not stop. `How d’ye do?’ Brigden stares to see anybody with me but my wife.  She, poor soul, is tied by the leg.  She has a blister on one of her heels, as large as a three-shilling piece.  If you look across the street, you will see Admiral Brand coming down and his brother.  Shabby fellows, both of them!  I am glad they are not on this side of the way.  Sophy cannot bear them.  They played me a pitiful trick once:  got away with some of my best men.  I will tell you the whole story another time.  There comes old Sir Archibald Drew and his grandson.  Look, he sees us; he kisses his hand to you; he takes you for my wife.  Ah! the peace has come too soon for that younker.  Poor old Sir Archibald!  How do you like Bath, Miss Elliot?  It suits us