Author's note - final chapter! I confess my whole purpose in writing this story was to have Anne and Frederick dance together. With that done, I am now happy to wrap things up. I realize I could drag this out much longer, but I like speedier resolutions. :)

Anne was sitting by herself in the drawing-room the next morning, and writing to Elizabeth while Mary and Charles were gone on business into the village, when she heard a visitor approaching the Cottage. The door opened and, to her great surprise, Captain Wentworth entered the room. He seemed astonished too on finding her alone, though not at all displeased.

He apologised for the intrusion and asked her to convey a message to Mary and Charles. He had received a letter from his friend, Captain Harville. It brought intelligence of Captain Harville's being settled at Lyme for the winter, less than twenty miles away. Captain Wentworth's anxiety to see his friend had determined him to set off for Lyme that same day.

Anne assured him that she would to deliver the message, and she thought the visit was over, as he must wish to prepare for his journey. He, however, did not seem ready to go.

She was sensible of his being less at ease than formerly. He sat down for a few moments, and then getting up again, walked about the room. He seemed agitated and apprehensive, very different from the decided and confident temper that he usually possessed. Anne was bewildered, but said not a word. After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her, and thus began:

"I must speak to you while I have this opportunity. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years ago. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. Tell me, am I too late? Are such precious feelings gone for ever?"

He stopped in his earnestness to look the question, and the expression of his eyes overpowered her.

"Anne," said he, "whatever the event of this quarter hour's conversation, I must know at once. A word, a look will be enough to decide whether I come back to Uppercross or never."

Anne was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment. The dread of being awakened from the happiest dream, was perhaps the most prominent feeling. She could command herself enough to receive his look, and not repulsively. The cheeks which had been pale now glowed, and the movements which had hesitated were decided. He walked over to her and took her hand.

"My dearest Anne," he said in a tone of sincere, decided tenderness. "I have been used to the gratification of believing myself to earn every blessing that I enjoyed. Like other great men under reverses, I must endeavour to subdue my mind to my fortune. I must learn to brook being happier than I deserve."

Who can be in doubt of what followed?

Captain Wentworth made his trip to Lyme, then proceeded on to Bath to secure Sir Walter's consent. The latter made no objection; though he had no affection for Anne, and no vanity flattered, to make him really happy on the occasion, he was very far from thinking it a bad match for her.

Once Captain Wentworth returned to Uppercross, the happy news was shared with everyone.

Lady Russell had just returned to Kellynch Lodge, and though she suffered some pain in understanding Anne's decision, she would come to learn that she had been mistaken with regard to Captain Wentworth. If her second object was to be sensible and well-judging, her first was to see Anne happy.

Admiral Croft was excessively delighted, and his wife even more so. Mrs. Croft looked forward to having another sister, and regarded Anne as an excellent match for her brother in every way.

Mary was most immediately gratified by the circumstance. It was creditable to have a sister married, and she might flatter herself with having been greatly instrumental to the connexion, by keeping Anne with her at Uppercross.

The news of the engagement burst on Louisa most unexpectedly. She had not thought that a sprained ankle could alter Captain Wentworth's course so quickly and so dramatically. She was forced to acknowledge that while a firm mind was beneficial when dealing with the nonsensical pride of others, it was quite the opposite when obstinately fixed on its own silly notions. Luckily for her, she was still young and not too fastidious. After allowing a short time for an improvement in her ankle, mind and spirits, she would soon find her own happiness with another.

THE END