Music Welcome to Snewscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Delightful Emotions. Tonight, we shall read the next part to persuasion, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliott, an English woman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses by renting their home to an admiral and his wife. In the last episode Anne navigates, baths, tightly woven social circuits, frequenting parties and strolling the streets. She continues to hope for a meaningful conversation with Wentworth, while contending with Lady Russell's lingering disapproval and Mr. Eliot's calculated charm. When a concert presents itself as a likely opportunity and sets aside a visit to her friend Mrs. Smith in hopes of finally seeing

Wentworth again and possibly learning the truth of his feelings once and for all.

Let's get cozy. Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths. As Anne ceased to speak of lime to Captain Wentworth, the entrance door opened again. The very party appeared for whom they were waiting. Lady Delrindble, Lady Delrindble, was the rejoicing sound, and with all the eagerness compatible with anxious elegance, Sir Walter and his two ladies stepped forward to meet her. Lady Dalrymple and Miss Cartwright, escorted by Mr. Elliott and Colonel Wallace, who had happened to arrive nearly at the same instant, advanced into the room. The others joined them, and it was a group in which Anne found herself also, necessarily, included. She was divided from Captain Wentworth. Their interesting, almost too interesting conversation must be broken up for a time, but slight was the penance compared with the happiness which brought it on. She had learned in the last ten minutes more of his feelings towards Luisa, more of all his feelings than she dared to think of, and she gave herself up to the demands of the party, to the needful civilities of the moment, with exquisite, though agitated sensations. She was in good humor with all. She had received ideas which disposed her to be courteous and kind to all, and to pity everyone as being less happy than herself. Her delightful emotions were slightly checked when, stepping back from the group to rejoin Captain Wentworth, she saw he had gone, just catching sight of him entering the concert room. He had disappeared, and she felt a brief pang of regret. But they would meet again. He would seek her out before the evening ended. For now, perhaps, a short interval for recollection was just as well. Lady Russell soon arrived, and the full party gathered to proceed into the concert room, prepared to be as consequential as possible, drawing eyes, whispers, and minor disruptions. Elizabeth and Anne were both very happy as they entered. Elizabeth on Miss Carter's arm and following Lady Dowrympel's broad back, felt nothing was out of reach. And Anne, but to compare her joy to her sisters, would be to diminish it. One, born of vanity, the other of generous affection. Anne saw nothing, nothing of the brilliancy of the room. Her happiness was from within. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks glowed, but she knew nothing about it. She was thinking only of the last half hour. And as they passed to their seats, her mind took a hasty range over it. His choice of subjects, his expressions, and still more his manner and look had been such as she could only see in one light. His opinion of Luisa muskrovesiity, an opinion which he had seemed solicitous to

give.

His wonder at Captain Benwick, his feelings as to a first strong attachment, sentences

begun, which he could not finish, his half averted eyes, and more than half expressive glance. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh anger resentment avoidance or no more and that they were succeeded not merely by friendship and regard, but by tenderness of the past. Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past, she could not contemplate the change as implying less. He must love her. These were the thoughts with their attendant visions, which occupied and flurried her too much to leave her any power of observation. And she passed along the room without having a glimpse of him, without even trying to discern him. their places were determined on and they were all properly arranged, she looked round to see if he should happen to be in the same part of the room, but he was not. Her eye could not reach him and the concert being just opening. She must consent for a time to be happy in a humbler way. The party was divided and disposed of on two contiguous benches and was among those on the foremost, and Mr. Elliot had maneuvered so well with the assistance of his friend Colonel Wallace as to have a seat by her. Miss Elliott surrounded by her cousins and the principal object of Colonel Wallace's gallantry was quite contented. Anne's mind was in a most favorable state for the entertainment of the evening. It was just occupation, though. She had feelings for the tender, spirits for the gay, attention for the scientific, and patience for the Wiersome, and had never liked a concert better, at least during the first act. Towards the close of it, in the interval succeeding an Italian song, she explained the words of the song to Mr. Elliott. They had a concert bill between them. This, said she, is nearly the sense, or rather the meaning of the words. For certainly the sense of an Italian love song must not be talked of, but it is as nearly the meaning as I can give. For I do not pretend to understand the language. I am a very poor Italian scholar. Yes, yes, I see you are. I see you know nothing of the matter. You have only knowledge enough of the language to translate at sight these inverted, transposed, curtailed Italian lines into clear, comprehensible, elegant English. You need not say anything more of your ignorance.

Here is complete proof. I will not oppose such politeness, but I should be sorry to be examined by a real proficient. I have not had the pleasure of visiting in Camden placed so long," replied he, without knowing something

of Miss Anne Elliott, and I do regard her as one who is too modest for the world in general to be aware of half her accomplishments, and to highly accomplished for modesty to be natural in any other woman. For shame, for shame, this is too much flattery. I forget what we are to have next, turning to the bill. Perhaps, said Mr. Elliot, speaking low, I've had a longer acquaintance with your character than you are aware of. Indeed, how so you can have been acquainted with it only since I came to Bath, accepting as you might hear me previously spoken of in my own family? I knew you by report long before you came to Bath. I had heard you described by those who knew you intimately. I've been acquainted with you by character many years. Your person, your disposition, accomplishments, manner, they were all present to me. Mr. Elliott was not disappointed in the interest he hoped to raise. No one can withstand the charm of such a mystery. To have been described long ago to a recent acquaintance by nameless people is irresistible and Anne was all curiosity. She wondered and questioned him eagerly, but in vain. He delighted in being asked, but he would not tell. No, no, sometime or rather perhaps, but not now. He would mention no names now, but such he could assure you had been the fact. He had many years ago received such a description of Miss Anne Elliott as had inspired him with the highest idea of her merit and excited the warmest curiosity to know her. And could think of no one so likely to have spoken with partiality of her many years ago as the Mr. Wentworth of Monkford, Captain Wentworth's brother. He might have been in Mr. Eliot's company, but she had not courage to ask the question. The name of Anne Elliott said he has long had an interesting sound to me. Very long has it possessed a charm over my fancy, and if I dared, I would breathe my wishes that the name might never change. Such, she believed, were his words. But scarcely had she received their sound, then her attention was caught by other sounds immediately behind her, which rendered everything else trivial. Her father and lady-dowl-rimple were speaking.

A well-looking man, said Sir Walter, a very well-looking man. A very fine young man indeed," said Lady Dowl-rimple, more air than one often sees in bath. Irish, I dare say?

No. I just know his name.

A Boeing... air than one often sees in bath. I wish, I dare say. No, I just know his name. A bowing acquaintance went worth. Captain went worth of the Navy. His sister married my tenant, the craft, who rents Kellynch. Before Sir Walter had reached this point, Anne's eyes had caught the right direction and distinguished Captain Wentworth standing among a cluster of men at a little distance. As her eyes fell on him, his seemed to be withdrawn from her. It had that appearance. It seemed as if she had been one moment too late. And as long as she dared observe, he did not look again. But the performance was recommending, and she was forced to seem to restore her attention to the orchestra and look straight forward. When she could give another glance, he had moved away. He could not have come nearer to her if he would. She was so surrounded and shut in, but she would rather have caught his eye.

Mr. Elliott's speech too distressed her. She had no longer any inclination to talk to him. She wished him not so near her. The first act was over. Now she hoped for some beneficial change. And after a period of nothing saying amongst the party, some of them did decide on going in quest of tea. Anne was one of the few who did not choose to move. She remained in her seat. And so did Lady Russell, but she had the pleasure of getting rid of Mr. Elliott, and she did not mean whatever she might feel on Lady Russell's account to shrink from conversation with Captain Wentworth if he gave her the opportunity. She was persuaded by Lady Russell's countenance that she had seen him. He did not come, however, and sometimes fancy she discerned him at a distance, but he never came. The anxious interval wore away unproductively. The others returned, the room filled again. Bunches were reclaimed and repossessed, and another hour of pleasure or of penance was to be sat out. Another hour of music was to give delight or thees, as real or affected taste for it prevailed. To Ann, it chiefly wore the prospect of an hour of agitation. She could not quit that room in peace without seeing Captain Wentworth once more, without the interchange of one friendly look. In resettling themselves, there were now many changes, the result of which was favorable for her. Colonel Wallace declined sitting down again, and Mr. Elliott was invited by Elizabeth and Miss Cartaret in a manner not to be refused to sit between them and by some other removals and a little skimming on her own, Anne was enabled to place herself much nearer the end of the bench than she had been before. Much more within reach of a passer-by. She could not do so without comparing herself with Miss Laurel's, the inimitable Miss Laurel's, but still she didn't, and not with much happier effect. Though by what seemed prosperity in the shape of an early abdication in her next neighbors, she found herself at the very end of the bench before the concert closed. Such was her situation with a vacant space at hand when Captain Wentworth was again in sight. She saw him not far off. He saw her too, yet he looked grave and seemed irresolute, and only by very slow degrees came at last near enough to speak to her. She felt that something must be the matter. The change was indubitable. The difference between his present air and what it had been in the octagon room was strikingly great. Why was it?

She thought of her father, of Lady Russell. Could there have been any unpleasant glances? He began by speaking of the concert gravely, more like the captain went worth of uppercross, owned himself disappointed, had expected singing, and in short must confess that he should not be sorry when it was over. Anne replied and spoke in defense of the performance so well, and yet in allowance for his feeling so pleasantly, that his countenance improved, and he replied again with almost a smile. They talked for a few minutes more. The improvement held. He even looked down towards the bench, as if he saw a place on it well worth occupying. When at that moment, a touch on her shoulder obliged and to turn round. It came from Mr. Elliott. He begged her pardon, but she must be applied to, to explain Italian again. Miss Carter at was very anxious to have a general idea of what was next to be sung, and could not refuse, but never had she sacrificed to politeness with a more suffering spirit. A few minutes, though as few as possible, were inevitably consumed, and when her own mistress again, when able to turn and look as she had done before, she found herself accosted by Captain Wentworth in In a reserved yet hurried sort of farewell, he must wish her good night. He was going. He should get home as fast as he could. "'Is not this song worth staying for?' said Anne. Suddenly struck by an idea which made her yet more anxious to be encouraging.

No, he said, impressively, there is nothing worth my staying for. And he was gone directly. The ability of Mr. Elliott.

It was the only intelligible mode.

Captain went... Jealousy of Mr. Elliott. It was the only intelligible motive. Captain Wentworth jealous of her affection. Could she have believed it a week ago? Three hours ago? For a moment, the gratification was exquisite. But alas, there was very different thoughts to succeed. How was such jealousy to be quieted? How was the truth to reach him? How, in all the peculiar disadvantages of their respective situations, would he ever learn of her real sentiments? It was misery to think of Mr. Eliot's attentions. Their evil was incalculable. And reflected with pleasure the next morning, her promise of going to Mrs. Smith, meaning that it should engage her from home at the time when Mr. Elliot would be most likely to call, for to avoid Mr. Elliot was almost a first object. She felt a great deal of goodwill towards him. In spite of the mischief of his attentions, she owed him gratitude and regard, perhaps compassion. She could not help thinking much of the extraordinary circumstances attending their acquaintance,

of the right which he seemed to have to entrust her

by everything in situation, by his own sentiments,

by his early prepossession.

It was altogether very extraordinary, flattering,

...