CHAPTER VI.

omeansofhergoing.Shewished,howevertoseetheCrofts,andwasgladtobewithinwhenthevisitwasreturned.Theycame:themasterofthehousewasnotathome,butthetwosistersweretogetherandasitchancedthatMrsCroftfelltotheshareofAnne,whiletheAdmiralsatbyMary,andmadehimselfveryagreeablebyhisgood-humourednoticeofherlittleboys,shewaswellabletowatchforalikeness,andifitfailedherinthefeatures,tocatchitinthevoice,orintheturnofsentimentandexpression. MrsCroft,thoughneithertallnorfat,hadasquareness,uprightness,andvigourofform,whichgaveimportancetoherperson.Shehadbrightdarkeyes,goodteeth,andaltogetheranagreeablefacethoughherreddenedandweather-beatencomplexion,theconsequenceofherhavingbeenalmostasmuchatseaasherhusband,madeherseemtohavelivedsomeyearslongerintheworldthanherrealeight-and-thirty.Hermannerswereopen,easy,anddecided,likeonewhohadnodistrustofherself,andnodoubtsofwhattodowithoutanyapproachtocoarseness,however,oranywantofgoodhumour.Annegavehercredit,indeed,forfeelingsofgreatconsiderationtowardsherself,inallthatrelatedtoKellynch,anditpleasedher:especially,asshehadsatisfiedherselfintheveryfirsthalfminute,intheinstantevenofintroduction,thattherewasnotthesmallestsymptomofanyknowledgeorsuspiciononMrsCroft’sside,togiveabiasofanysort.Shewasquiteeasyonthathead,andconsequentlyfullofstrengthandcourage,tillforamomentelectrifiedbyMrsCroft’ssuddenlysaying,— “Itwasyou,andnotyoursister,Ifind,thatmybrotherhadthepleasureofbeingacquaintedwith,whenhewasinthiscountry.” Annehopedshehadoutlivedtheageofblushingbuttheageofemotionshecertainlyhadnot. “Perhapsyoumaynothaveheardthatheismarried?”addedMrsCroft. Shecouldnowanswerassheoughtandwashappytofeel,whenMrsCroft’snextwordsexplainedittobeMrWentworthofwhomshespoke,thatshehadsaidnothingwhichmightnotdoforeitherbrother.Sheimmediatelyfelthowreasonableitwas,thatMrsCroftshouldbethinkingandspeakingofEdward,andnotofFrederickandwithshameatherownforgetfulnessappliedherselftotheknowledgeoftheirformerneighbour’spresentstatewithproperinterest. Therestwasalltranquillitytill,justastheyweremoving,sheheardtheAdmiralsaytoMary— “WeareexpectingabrotherofMrsCroft’sheresoonIdaresayyouknowhimbyname.” Hewascutshortbytheeagerattacksofthelittleboys,clingingtohimlikeanoldfriend,anddeclaringheshouldnotgoandbeingtoomuchengrossedbyproposalsofcarryingthemawayinhiscoatpockets,&c.,tohaveanothermomentforfinishingorrecollectingwhathehadbegun,Annewaslefttopersuadeherself,aswellasshecould,thatthesamebrothermuststillbeinquestion.Shecouldnot,however,reachsuchadegreeofcertainty,asnottobeanxioustohearwhetheranythinghadbeensaidonthesubjectattheotherhouse,wheretheCroftshadpreviouslybeencalling. ThefolksoftheGreatHouseweretospendtheeveningofthisdayattheCottageanditbeingnowtoolateintheyearforsuchvisitstobemadeonfoot,thecoachwasbeginningtobelistenedfor,whentheyoungestMissMusgrovewalkedin.Thatshewascomingtoapologize,andthattheyshouldhavetospendtheeveningbythemselves,wasthefirstblackideaandMarywasquitereadytobeaffronted,whenLouisamadeallrightbysaying,thatsheonlycameonfoot,toleavemoreroomfortheharp,whichwasbringinginthecarriage. “AndIwilltellyouourreason,”sheadded,“andallaboutit.Iamcomeontogiveyounotice,thatpapaandmammaareoutofspiritsthisevening,especiallymammasheisthinkingsomuchofpoorRichard!Andweagreeditwouldbebesttohavetheharp,foritseemstoamusehermorethanthepiano-forte.Iwilltellyouwhysheisoutofspirits.WhentheCroftscalledthismorning,(theycalledhereafterwards,didnotthey?),theyhappenedtosay,thatherbrother,CaptainWentworth,isjustreturne