CHAPTER IX.

self,beforeCaptainWentworthcamebutfromthattimeCousinCharleshadbeenverymuchforgotten. WhichofthetwosisterswaspreferredbyCaptainWentworthwasasyetquitedoubtful,asfarasAnne’sobservationreached.Henriettawasperhapstheprettiest,Louisahadthehigherspiritsandsheknewnotnow,whetherthemoregentleorthemorelivelycharacterweremostlikelytoattracthim. MrandMrsMusgrove,eitherfromseeinglittle,orfromanentireconfidenceinthediscretionofboththeirdaughters,andofalltheyoungmenwhocamenearthem,seemedtoleaveeverythingtotakeitschance.TherewasnotthesmallestappearanceofsolicitudeorremarkaboutthemintheMansion-housebutitwasdifferentattheCottage:theyoungcouplethereweremoredisposedtospeculateandwonderandCaptainWentworthhadnotbeenabovefourorfivetimesintheMissMusgroves’company,andCharlesHayterhadbutjustreappeared,whenAnnehadtolistentotheopinionsofherbrotherandsister,astowhichwastheonelikedbest.CharlesgaveitforLouisa,MaryforHenrietta,butquiteagreeingthattohavehimmarryeithercouldbeextremelydelightful. Charles“hadneverseenapleasantermaninhislifeandfromwhathehadonceheardCaptainWentworthhimselfsay,wasverysurethathehadnotmadelessthantwentythousandpoundsbythewar.Herewasafortuneatoncebesideswhich,therewouldbethechanceofwhatmightbedoneinanyfuturewarandhewassureCaptainWentworthwasaslikelyamantodistinguishhimselfasanyofficerinthenavy.Oh!itwouldbeacapitalmatchforeitherofhissisters.” “Uponmyworditwould,”repliedMary.“Dearme!Ifheshouldrisetoanyverygreathonours!Ifheshouldeverbemadeabaronet!‘LadyWentworth’soundsverywell.Thatwouldbeanoblething,indeed,forHenrietta!Shewouldtakeplaceofmethen,andHenriettawouldnotdislikethat.SirFrederickandLadyWentworth!Itwouldbebutanewcreation,however,andIneverthinkmuchofyournewcreations.” ItsuitedMarybesttothinkHenriettatheonepreferredontheveryaccountofCharlesHayter,whosepretensionsshewishedtoseeputanendto.ShelookeddownverydecidedlyupontheHayters,andthoughtitwouldbequiteamisfortunetohavetheexistingconnectionbetweenthefamiliesrenewed—verysadforherselfandherchildren. “Youknow,”saidshe,“IcannotthinkhimatallafitmatchforHenriettaandconsideringtheallianceswhichtheMusgroveshavemade,shehasnorighttothrowherselfaway.Idonotthinkanyyoungwomanhasarighttomakeachoicethatmaybedisagreeableandinconvenienttotheprincipalpartofherfamily,andbegivingbadconnectionstothosewhohavenotbeenusedtothem.And,pray,whoisCharlesHayter?Nothingbutacountrycurate.AmostimpropermatchforMissMusgroveofUppercross.” Herhusband,however,wouldnotagreewithherhereforbesideshavingaregardforhiscousin,CharlesHayterwasaneldestson,andhesawthingsasaneldestsonhimself. “Nowyouaretalkingnonsense,Mary,”wasthereforehisanswer.“Itwouldnotbeagreatmatc