CHAPTER VI.

AnnehadnotwantedthisvisittoUppercross,tolearnthataremovalfromonesetofpeopletoanother,thoughatadistanceofonlythreemiles,willoftenincludeatotalchangeofconversation,opinion,andidea.Shehadneverbeenstayingtherebefore,withoutbeingstruckbyit,orwithoutwishingthatotherElliotscouldhaveheradvantageinseeinghowunknown,orunconsideredthere,weretheaffairswhichatKellynchHallweretreatedasofsuchgeneralpublicityandpervadinginterestyet,withallthisexperience,shebelievedshemustnowsubmittofeelthatanotherlesson,intheartofknowingourownnothingnessbeyondourowncircle,wasbecomenecessaryforherforcertainly,comingasshedid,withaheartfullofthesubjectwhichhadbeencompletelyoccupyingbothhousesinKellynchformanyweeks,shehadexpectedrathermorecuriosityandsympathythanshefoundintheseparatebutverysimilarremarkofMrandMrsMusgrove:“So,MissAnne,SirWalterandyoursisteraregoneandwhatpartofBathdoyouthinktheywillsettlein?”andthis,withoutmuchwaitingforananswerorintheyoungladies’additionof,“IhopeweshallbeinBathinthewinterbutremember,papa,ifwedogo,wemustbeinagoodsituation:noneofyourQueenSquaresforus!”orintheanxioussupplementfromMary,of—“Uponmyword,Ishallbeprettywelloff,whenyouareallgoneawaytobehappyatBath!” Shecouldonlyresolvetoavoidsuchself-delusioninfuture,andthinkwithheightenedgratitudeoftheextraordinaryblessingofhavingonesuchtrulysympathisingfriendasLadyRussell. TheMrMusgroveshadtheirowngametoguard,andtodestroy,theirownhorses,dogs,andnewspaperstoengagethem,andthefemaleswerefullyoccupiedinalltheothercommonsubjectsofhousekeeping,neighbours,dress,dancing,andmusic.Sheacknowledgedittobeveryfitting,thateverylittlesocialcommonwealthshoulddictateitsownmattersofdiscourseandhoped,erelong,tobecomeanotunworthymemberoftheoneshewasnowtransplantedinto.WiththeprospectofspendingatleasttwomonthsatUppercross,itwashighlyincumbentonhertoclotheherimagination,hermemory,andallherideasinasmuchofUppercrossaspossible. Shehadnodreadofthesetwomonths.MarywasnotsorepulsiveandunsisterlyasElizabeth,norsoinaccessibletoallinfluenceofhersneitherwasthereanythingamongtheothercomponentpartsofthecottageinimicaltocomfort.Shewasalwaysonfriendlytermswithherbrother-in-lawandinthechildren,wholovedhernearlyaswell,andrespectedheragreatdealmorethantheirmother,shehadanobjectofinterest,amusement,andwholesomeexertion. CharlesMusgrovewascivilandagreeableinsenseandtemperhewasundoubtedlysuperiortohiswife,butnotofpowers,orconversation,orgrace,tomakethepast,astheywereconnectedtogether,atalladangerouscontemplationthough,atthesametime,Annecouldbelieve,withLadyRussell,thatamoreequalmatchmighthavegreatlyimprovedhimandthatawomanofrealunderstandingmighthavegivenmoreconsequencetohischaracter,andmoreusefulness,rationality,andelegancetohishabitsandpursuits.Asitwas,hedidnothingwithmuchzeal,butsportandhistimewasotherwisetrifledaway,withoutbenefitfrombooksoranythingelse.Hehadverygoodspirits,whichneverseemedmuchaffectedbyhiswife’soccasionallowness,borewithherunreasonablenesssometimestoAnne’sadmiration,anduponthewhole,thoughtherewasveryoftenalittledisagreement(inwhichshehadsometimesmoresharethanshewished,beingappealedtobybothparties),theymightpassforahappycouple.Theywerealwaysperfectlyagreedinthewantofmoremoney,andastronginclinationforahandsomepresentfromhisfatherbuthere,asonmosttopics,hehadthesuperiority,forwhileMarythoughtitagreatshamethatsuchapresentwasnotmade,healwayscontendedforhisfather’shavingmanyotherusesforhismoney,andarighttospenditasheliked. Astothemanagementoftheirchildren,histheorywasmuchbetterthanhisw