very well.  We are always meeting with some old friend or other; the streets full of them every morning; sure to have plenty of chat; and then we get away from them all, and shut ourselves in our lodgings, and draw in our chairs, and are snug as if we were at Kellynch, ay, or as we used to be even at North Yarmouth and Deal.  We do not like our lodgings here the worse, I can tell you, for putting us in mind of those we first had at North Yarmouth.  The wind blows through one of the cupboards just in the same way.”

When they were got a little farther, Anne ventured to press again for what he had to communicate.  She hoped when clear of Milsom Street to have her curiosity gratified; but she was still obliged to wait, for the Admiral had made up his mind not to begin till they had gained the greater space and quiet of Belmont; and as she was not really Mrs Croft, she must let him have his own way.  As soon as they were fairly ascending Belmont, he began—­

“Well, now you shall hear something that will surprise you.  But first of all, you must tell me the name of the young lady I am going to talk about.  That young lady, you know, that we have all been so concerned for.  The Miss Musgrove, that all this has been happening to.  Her Christian name:  I always forget her Christian name.”

Anne had been ashamed to appear to comprehend so soon as she really did; but now she could safely suggest the name of “Louisa.”

“Ay, ay, Miss Louisa Musgrove, that is the name.  I wish young ladies had not such a number of fine Christian names.  I should never be out if they were all Sophys, or something of that sort.  Well, this Miss Louisa, we all thought, you know, was to marry Frederick.  He was courting her week after week.  The only wonder was, what they could be waiting for, till the business at Lyme came; then, indeed, it was clear enough that they must wait till her brain was set to right.  But even then there was something odd in their way of going on.  Instead of staying at Lyme, he went off to Plymouth, and then he went off to see Edward.  When we came back from Minehead he was gone down to Edward’s, and there he has been ever since.  We have seen nothing of him since November.  Even Sophy could not understand it.  But now, the matter has take the strangest turn of all; for this young lady, the same Miss Musgrove, instead of being to marry Frederick, is to marry James Benwick.  You know James Benwick.”

“A little.  I am a little acquainted with Captain Benwick.”

“Well, she is to marry him.  Nay, most likely they are married already, for I do not know what they should wait for.”

“I thought Captain Benwick a very pleasing young man,” said Anne, “and I understand that he bears an excellent character.”

“Oh! yes, yes, there is not a word to be said against James Benwick.  He is only a commander, it is true, made last summer, and these are bad times for getting on, but he has not another fault that I know of.  An excellent, good-hearted fellow, I assure you; a very active, zealous officer too, which is more than you would think for, perhaps, for that soft sort of manner does not do him justice.”