CHAPTER VII.

Averyfewdaysmore,andCaptainWentworthwasknowntobeatKellynch,andMrMusgrovehadcalledonhim,andcomebackwarminhispraise,andhewasengagedwiththeCroftstodineatUppercross,bytheendofanotherweek.IthadbeenagreatdisappointmenttoMrMusgrovetofindthatnoearlierdaycouldbefixed,soimpatientwashetoshewhisgratitude,byseeingCaptainWentworthunderhisownroof,andwelcominghimtoallthatwasstrongestandbestinhiscellars.Butaweekmustpassonlyaweek,inAnne’sreckoning,andthen,shesupposed,theymustmeetandsoonshebegantowishthatshecouldfeelsecureevenforaweek. CaptainWentworthmadeaveryearlyreturntoMrMusgrove’scivility,andshewasallbutcallingthereinthesamehalfhour.SheandMarywereactuallysettingforwardfortheGreatHouse,where,assheafterwardslearnt,theymustinevitablyhavefoundhim,whentheywerestoppedbytheeldestboy’sbeingatthatmomentbroughthomeinconsequenceofabadfall.Thechild’ssituationputthevisitentirelyasidebutshecouldnothearofherescapewithindifference,eveninthemidstoftheseriousanxietywhichtheyafterwardsfeltonhisaccount. Hiscollar-bonewasfoundtobedislocated,andsuchinjuryreceivedintheback,asrousedthemostalarmingideas.Itwasanafternoonofdistress,andAnnehadeverythingtodoatoncetheapothecarytosendfor,thefathertohavepursuedandinformed,themothertosupportandkeepfromhysterics,theservantstocontrol,theyoungestchildtobanish,andthepoorsufferingonetoattendandsoothebesidessending,assoonassherecollectedit,propernoticetotheotherhouse,whichbroughtheranaccessionratheroffrightened,enquiringcompanions,thanofveryusefulassistants. Herbrother’sreturnwasthefirstcomforthecouldtakebestcareofhiswifeandthesecondblessingwasthearrivaloftheapothecary.Tillhecameandhadexaminedthechild,theirapprehensionsweretheworseforbeingvaguetheysuspectedgreatinjury,butknewnotwherebutnowthecollar-bonewassoonreplaced,andthoughMrRobinsonfeltandfelt,andrubbed,andlookedgrave,andspokelowwordsbothtothefatherandtheaunt,stilltheywerealltohopethebest,andtobeabletopartandeattheirdinnerintolerableeaseofmindandthenitwas,justbeforetheyparted,thatthetwoyoungauntswereablesofartodigressfromtheirnephew’sstate,astogivetheinformationofCaptainWentworth’svisitstayingfiveminutesbehindtheirfatherandmother,toendeavourtoexpresshowperfectlydelightedtheywerewithhim,howmuchhandsomer,howinfinitelymoreagreeabletheythoughthimthananyindividualamongtheirmaleacquaintance,whohadbeenatallafavouritebefore.Howgladtheyhadbeentohearpapainvitehimtostaydinner,howsorrywhenhesaiditwasquiteoutofhispower,andhowgladagainwhenhehadpromisedinreplytopapaandmamma’sfartherpressinginvitationstocomeanddinewiththemonthemorrow—actuallyonthemorrowandhehadpromiseditinsopleasantamanner,asifhefeltallthemotiveoftheirattentionjustasheought.Andinshort,hehadlookedandsaideverythingwithsuchexquisitegrace,thattheycouldassurethemall,theirheadswerebothturnedbyhimandofftheyran,quiteasfullofgleeasoflove,andapparentlymorefullofCaptainWentworththanoflittleCharles. Thesamestoryandthesameraptureswererepeated,whenthetwogirlscamewiththeirfather,throughthegloomoftheevening,tomakeenquiriesandMrMusgrove,nolongerunderthefirstuneasine