Music Welcome to snoozecast, 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 The Octagon Room. 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. Austin began writing persuasion in 1815 during a period of declining health, yet the novel style shows a maturity and restraint distinct from her earlier works. Many readers have noted it's quieter, more autumnal tone, reflecting themes of second chances, endurance, and the slow rekindling of love. In the last episode, Anne is thrilled to sense Captain Wentworth's rekindled interest in her at the concert.

Mr. Elliot's vying interest in her

apparently leaves Wentworth to storm out early

in vexation and leaves Anne in astonishment.

Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now, take a few deep breaths. Chapter 21 Anne recollected 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. Elliott would be most likely to call, for to avoid Mr. Elliott 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, but painful. There was much to regret. How she might have felt had there been no captain went worth in the case, was not worth inquiry, for there was a captain went worth, and be the conclusion of the present suspense good or bad, her affection would be his forever. Their union, she believed, could not divide her more from other men than their final separation. Pretty or musings of high-rot love and eternal constancy could never have passed along the streets of Bath, then Anne was sporting with from Camden Place to Westgate buildings. It was almost enough to spread purification and perfume all the way. She was sure of a pleasant reception, and her friends seemed this morning particularly obliged to her for coming, seemed hardly to have expected her, though it had been an appointment. An account of the concert was immediately claimed, and Anne's recollections of the concert were quite happy enough to animate her features and make her rejoice to talk of it. All that she could tell, she told, most gladly. But the all was little for one who had been there and unsatisfactory for such an inquirer as Mrs. Smith, who had already heard through the shortcut of a laundress and a waiter, Rather more of the general success and produce of the evening than Anne could relate, and who now asked in vain for several particulars of the company. Everybody of any consequence or notoriety in Bath was well known by name to Mrs. Smith. The little durands were there, I conclude, said she, with their mouths open to catch the music, like unfledged sparrows ready to be fed. They never miss a concert. Yes, I did not see them myself, but I heard Mr. Elliot say they were in the room. The Ibit Sins were they there? And the two new beauties, with the tall Irish officer, who is talk dove for one of them? I do not know. I do not think they were there. Old lady Mary McLean? I need not ask after her. She never misses, I know. And you must have seen her. She must have been in your own circle. For as you went with Lady Dowrymple, you were in the seats of Granger, around the orchestra, of course. No. That was what I dreaded. It would have been very unpleasant to me in every respect. But happily, Lady Del Ripple always chooses to be farther off. And we were exceedingly well placed, that is, for hearing. I must not say for seeing, because I appear to have seen very little. Oh, you saw enough for your own amusement. I can understand. There is a sort of domestic enjoyment to be known even in a crowd, and this you had. You were a large party in yourselves, and you wanted nothing beyond. But I ought to have looked about me more," said Anne, conscious while she spoke, that there had in fact been no want of looking about, that the object only had been deficient. No, no, you were better employed. You need not tell me that you had a pleasant evening. I see it in your eye. I perfectly see how the hours passed that you had always something agreeable to listen to. In the intervals of the concert, it was conversation. And half smiled and said, do you see that in my eye? Yes, I do. Your countenance perfectly informs me that you were in company last night with the person whom you think the most agreeable in the world. The person who entrust you at this present time more than all the rest of the world put together. a blush over spread and cheeks. She could say nothing. And such being the case continued Mrs. Smith after a short pause. I hope you believe that I do know how to value your kindness and coming to me this morning. It is really very good of you to come and sit with me when you must have so many pleasant her demands upon your time and heard nothing of this. She was still in the astonishment and confusion excited by her friend's penetration. Unable to imagine how any report of Captain Wentworth could have reached her, after another short silence, pray, said Mrs. Smith, Is Mr. Elliott aware of your acquaintance with me? Does he know that I am in bath? Mr. Elliott repeated and looking up surprised. A moment's reflection showed her the mistake she had been under. She caught it instantaneously and recovering her courage with the feeling of safety soon added more compositely.

Are you acquainted with Mr. Elliott?

I have been a good deal acquainted with him,

replied Mrs. Smith gravely, but it seems worn out now.

It is a great while since we met.

I was not at all aware of this. You never mentioned it before. Had I known it? I would have had the pleasure of talking to him about you. "'To confess the truth,' said Mrs. Smith, assuming her usual air of cheerfulness, "'that is exactly the pleasure I want you to have. I want you to talk about me to Mr. Elliott. I want your interest with him. He can be of essential service to me, and if you would have the goodness, my dear Miss Elliott, to make it an object to yourself, of course it is done. I should be extremely happy. I hope you cannot doubt my willingness to be of even the slightest use to you," replied Anne. But I suspect that you are considering me as having a higher claim on Mr. Elliott, a greater right to influence him than is really the case. I am sure you have somehow or other imbibed such a notion. You must consider me only as Mr. Elliott's relation. If in that light there is anything which you suppose his cousin might fairly ask of him, I beg you would not hesitate to employ me. Mrs. Smith gave her a penetrating glance, and then smiling said, I have been a little premature, I perceive. I beg your pardon. I ought to have waited for official information but now my dear Miss Elliott as an old friend do give me a hint as to when I may speak next week to be sure by next week I may be allowed to think get all settled and build my own selfish schemes on Mr. Elliott's good fortune. No, replied Anne. Nor next week, nor next, nor next. I assure you that nothing of the sort you are thinking of will be settled any week.

I'm not going to marry Mr. Elliott. I should like to know why you imagine I am. Mrs. Smith looked at her again, looked earnestly, smiled, shook her head, and exclaimed, Now, how I do wish I understood you, how I do wish I knew what you were at. I have a great idea that you do not design to be cruel when the right moment occurs, till it does come, you know, we women never mean to have anybody. It is a thing, of course, among us, that every man is refused till he offers. But why should you be cruel? Let me plead for my present friend, I cannot call him, but for my former friend. Where can you look for a more suitable match? Where could you expect a more gentleman like a agreeable man? Let me recommend Mr. Elliott. I am sure you hear nothing but good of him from Colonel Wallace and who can know him better than Colonel Wallace. My dear Mrs. Smith, Mr. Elliott's wife has not been dead much above half a year. He ought not to be supposed to be paying his addresses to anyone. Oh, if these are your only objections, cried Mrs. Smith, Archley. Mr. Eliot is safe, and I shall give myself no more trouble about him. Do not forget me when you are married. That's all. Let him know me to be a friend of yours, and then he will think little of the trouble required, which it is very natural for him now, with so many affairs and engagements of his own, to avoid and get rid of as he can. Very natural, perhaps. 99 out of 100 would do the same. Of course, he cannot be aware of the importance to me. Well, my dear Miss Elliott, I hope and trust you will be very happy. Mr. Elliott has sensed to understand the value of such a woman. Your peace will not be shipwrecked as mine has been. You are safe in all worldly matters, and safe in his character. He will not be led astray. He will not be misled by others to his ruin." No, said Anne. I can readily believe all that of my cousin. He seems to have a calm, decided temper. Not at all open to dangerous impressions. I consider him with great respect. I have no reason from anything that has fallen within my observation to do otherwise. But I have not known him long, and he is not a man, I think, to be known intimately soon. Will not this manner of speaking of him, Mrs. Smith, convince you that he is nothing to me? Surely this must be calm enough. And upon my word, he is nothing to me. Should he ever propose to me, which I have very little reason to imagine he has any thought of doing, I shall not accept him. I assure you I shall not. I assure you, Mr. Elliott had not the share which you have been supposing in whatever pleasure the concert of last night might afford. Not Mr. Elliott. It is not Mr. Elliott that she stopped regretting with the deep blush that she had implied so much, but less would hardly have been sufficient. Mrs. Smith would hardly have believed so soon in Mr. Elliot's failure but from the perception of their being as somebody else. As it was, she instantly submitted, and with all the semblance of seeing nothing beyond, and Anne, eager to escape farther notice, was impatient to know why Mrs. Smith should have fancied she was to marry Mr. Elliott, where she could have received the idea, or from whom she could have heard it. Do tell me how it first came into your head. It first came into my head, replied Mrs. Smith, upon finding how much you were together, and feeling it to be the most probable thing in the world to be wished for by everybody belonging to either of you. And you may depend upon it that all your acquaintance have disposed of you in the same way. But I never heard it spoken of till two days ago.

And has it indeed been spoken of?

Did you observe the woman who opened the door to you

when you called yesterday?

No.

Was it not Mrs. Speed as usual or the maid? I observed no one in particular. It was my friend Mrs. Rook, nurse Rook, who, by the by, had a great curiosity to see you and was delighted to be in the way to let you in. She came away from Marborough buildings only on Sunday, and she it was who told me you were to marry Mr. Elliott. She had had it from Mrs. Wallace herself, which did not seem bad authority. She sat an hour with me on Monday evening, gave me the whole history. The whole history repeated Anne laughing. She could not make a very long history, I think, of one such little article of unfounded news. Mrs. Smith said nothing, but continued Anne presently. Though there there is no truth in my having this claim on Mr. Elliott, I should be extremely happy to be of use to you in any way that I could. Should I mention to him you're being in bath? Should I take any message? No I thank you,. No, certainly not. In the warmth of the moment, and under a mistaken impression, I might perhaps have endeavored to interest you in some circumstances, but not now. No. I thank you. I have nothing to trouble you with. I think you spoke of having known Mr. Elliott many years. I did. Not before he was married, I suppose. Yes, he was not married when I knew him first. And were you much acquainted? Intimately. Indeed. Then do tell me what he was at that time of life. I have a great curiosity to know what Mr. Elliot was as a very young man. Was he at all such as he appears now? I have not seen Mr. Elliot these three years. It was Mrs. Smith's answer, given so gravely that it was impossible to pursue the subject farther, and Anne felt that she had gained nothing but an increase of curiosity. They were both silent. Mrs. Smith very thoughtful. At last. I beg your pardon, my dear Miss Elliott. She cried in her natural tone of cordiality. I beg your pardon for the short answers I have been giving you. But I've been uncertain what I ought to do. I've been doubting and considering as to what I ought to tell you, there were many things to be taken into account. One hates to be officious, to be giving bad impressions, making mischief. Even the smooth surface of family union seems worth preserving, though there may be nothing durable beneath. However, I have determined, I think I am right. I think you ought to be made acquainted with Mr. Elliott's real character.

Though I fully believe that, at present, you have not the smallest intention of accepting him,

there is no saying what may happen.

You might, some time or other,

be directly affected towards him.

Hear the truth, therefore.

...