CHAPTER V.

ofitIalwaysdo:butIwasveryfarfromwellatthetimeandIdonotthinkIeverwassoillinmylifeasIhavebeenallthismorning:veryunfittobeleftalone,Iamsure.SupposeIweretobeseizedofasuddeninsomedreadfulway,andnotabletoringthebell!So,LadyRussellwouldnotgetout.Idonotthinkshehasbeeninthishousethreetimesthissummer.” Annesaidwhatwasproper,andenquiredafterherhusband.“Oh!Charlesisoutshooting.Ihavenotseenhimsinceseveno’clock.Hewouldgo,thoughItoldhimhowillIwas.Hesaidheshouldnotstayoutlongbuthehasnevercomeback,andnowitisalmostone.Iassureyou,Ihavenotseenasoulthiswholelongmorning.” “Youhavehadyourlittleboyswithyou?” “Yes,aslongasIcouldbeartheirnoisebuttheyaresounmanageablethattheydomemoreharmthangood.LittleCharlesdoesnotmindawordIsay,andWalterisgrowingquiteasbad.” “Well,youwillsoonbebetternow,”repliedAnne,cheerfully.“YouknowIalwayscureyouwhenIcome.HowareyourneighboursattheGreatHouse?” “Icangiveyounoaccountofthem.Ihavenotseenoneofthemto-day,exceptMrMusgrove,whojuststoppedandspokethroughthewindow,butwithoutgettingoffhishorseandthoughItoldhimhowillIwas,notoneofthemhavebeennearme.ItdidnothappentosuittheMissMusgroves,Isuppose,andtheyneverputthemselvesoutoftheirway.” “Youwillseethemyet,perhaps,beforethemorningisgone.Itisearly.” “Ineverwantthem,Iassureyou.Theytalkandlaughagreatdealtoomuchforme.Oh!Anne,Iamsoveryunwell!ItwasquiteunkindofyounottocomeonThursday.” “MydearMary,recollectwhatacomfortableaccountyousentmeofyourself!Youwroteinthecheerfullestmanner,andsaidyouwereperfectlywell,andinnohurryformeandthatbeingthecase,youmustbeawarethatmywishwouldbetoremainwithLadyRusselltothelast:andbesideswhatIfeltonheraccount,Ihavereallybeensobusy,havehadsomuchtodo,thatIcouldnotveryconvenientlyhaveleftKellynchsooner.” “Dearme!whatcanyoupossiblyhavetodo?” “Agreatmanythings,Iassureyou.MorethanIcanrecollectinamomentbutIcantellyousome.Ihavebeenmakingaduplicateofthecatalogueofmyfather’sbooksandpictures.IhavebeenseveraltimesinthegardenwithMackenzie,tryingtounderstand,andmakehimunderstand,whichofElizabeth’splantsareforLadyRussell.Ihavehadallmyownlittleconcernstoarrange,booksandmusictodivide,andallmytrunkstorepack,fromnothavingunderstoodintimewhatwasintendedastothewaggons:andonethingIhavehadtodo,Mary,ofamoretryingnature:goingtoalmosteveryhouseintheparish,asasortoftake-leave.Iwastoldthattheywishedit.Butallthesethingstookupagreatdealoftime.” “Oh!well!”andafteramoment’spause,“butyouhaveneveraskedmeonewordaboutourdinneratthePoolesyesterday.” “Didyougothen?Ihavemadenoenquiries,becauseIconcludedyoumusthavebeenobligedtogiveuptheparty.” “Ohyes!Iwent.Iwasverywellyesterdaynothingatallthematterwithmetillthismorning.ItwouldhavebeenstrangeifIhadnotgone.” “Iamverygladyouwerewellenough,andIhopeyouhadapleasantparty.” “Nothingremarkable.Onealwaysknowsbeforehandwhatthedinnerwillbe,andwhowillbethereanditissoveryuncomfortablenothavingacarriageofone’sown.MrandMrsMusgrovetookme,andweweresocrowded!Theyarebothsoverylarge,andtakeupsomuchroomandMrMusgrovealwayssitsforward.So,therewasI,crowdedintotheb