CHAPTER V.

e,asIhaveagreatdealmoreatstakeonthispointthananybodyelsecanhave,Ithinkitratherunnecessaryinyoutobeadvisingme.” Annehaddonegladthatitwasover,andnotabsolutelyhopelessofdoinggood.Elizabeth,thoughresentingthesuspicion,mightyetbemadeobservantbyit. Thelastofficeofthefourcarriage-horseswastodrawSirWalter,MissElliot,andMrsClaytoBath.ThepartydroveoffinverygoodspiritsSirWalterpreparedwithcondescendingbowsforalltheafflictedtenantryandcottagerswhomighthavehadahinttoshowthemselves,andAnnewalkedupatthesametime,inasortofdesolatetranquillity,totheLodge,whereshewastospendthefirstweek. Herfriendwasnotinbetterspiritsthanherself.LadyRussellfeltthisbreak-upofthefamilyexceedingly.Theirrespectabilitywasasdeartoherasherown,andadailyintercoursehadbecomepreciousbyhabit.Itwaspainfultolookupontheirdesertedgrounds,andstillworsetoanticipatethenewhandstheyweretofallintoandtoescapethesolitarinessandthemelancholyofsoalteredavillage,andbeoutofthewaywhenAdmiralandMrsCroftfirstarrived,shehaddeterminedtomakeherownabsencefromhomebeginwhenshemustgiveupAnne.Accordinglytheirremovalwasmadetogether,andAnnewassetdownatUppercrossCottage,inthefirststageofLadyRussell’sjourney. Uppercrosswasamoderate-sizedvillage,whichafewyearsbackhadbeencompletelyintheoldEnglishstyle,containingonlytwohousessuperiorinappearancetothoseoftheyeomenandlabourersthemansionofthesquire,withitshighwalls,greatgates,andoldtrees,substantialandunmodernized,andthecompact,tightparsonage,enclosedinitsownneatgarden,withavineandapear-treetrainedrounditscasementsbutuponthemarriageoftheyoung’squire,ithadreceivedtheimprovementofafarm-houseelevatedintoacottage,forhisresidence,andUppercrossCottage,withitsveranda,Frenchwindows,andotherprettiness,wasquiteaslikelytocatchthetraveller’seyeasthemoreconsistentandconsiderableaspectandpremisesoftheGreatHouse,aboutaquarterofamilefartheron. HereAnnehadoftenbeenstaying.SheknewthewaysofUppercrossaswellasthoseofKellynch.Thetwofamiliesweresocontinuallymeeting,somuchinthehabitofrunninginandoutofeachother’shouseatallhours,thatitwasratherasurprisetohertofindMaryalonebutbeingalone,herbeingunwellandoutofspiritswasalmostamatterofcourse.Thoughbetterendowedthantheeldersister,MaryhadnotAnne’sunderstandingnortemper.Whilewell,andhappy,andproperlyattendedto,shehadgreatgoodhumourandexcellentspiritsbutanyindispositionsunkhercompletely.ShehadnoresourcesforsolitudeandinheritingaconsiderableshareoftheElliotself-importance,wasverypronetoaddtoeveryotherdistressthatoffancyingherselfneglectedandill-used.Inperson,shewasinferiortobothsisters,andhad,eveninherbloom,onlyreachedthedignityofbeing“afinegirl.”Shewasnowlyingonthefadedsofaoftheprettylittledrawing-room,theonceelegantfurnitureofwhichhadbeengraduallygrowingshabby,undertheinfluenceoffoursummersandtwochildrenand,onAnne’sappearing,greetedherwith— “So,youarecomeatlast!IbegantothinkIshouldneverseeyou.IamsoillIcanhardlyspeak.Ihavenotseenacreaturethewholemorning!” “Iamsorrytofindyouunwell,”repliedAnne.“YousentmesuchagoodaccountofyourselfonThursday!” “Yes,Imadethebest