CHAPTER IX.

hforHenrietta,butCharleshasaveryfairchance,throughtheSpicers,ofgettingsomethingfromtheBishopinthecourseofayearortwoandyouwillpleasetoremember,thatheistheeldestsonwhenevermyuncledies,hestepsintoveryprettyproperty.TheestateatWinthropisnotlessthantwohundredandfiftyacres,besidesthefarmnearTaunton,whichissomeofthebestlandinthecountry.Igrantyou,thatanyofthembutCharleswouldbeaveryshockingmatchforHenrietta,andindeeditcouldnotbeheistheonlyonethatcouldbepossiblebutheisaverygood-natured,goodsortofafellowandwheneverWinthropcomesintohishands,hewillmakeadifferentsortofplaceofit,andliveinaverydifferentsortofwayandwiththatproperty,hewillneverbeacontemptibleman—good,freeholdproperty.No,noHenriettamightdoworsethanmarryCharlesHayterandifshehashim,andLouisacangetCaptainWentworth,Ishallbeverywellsatisfied.” “Charlesmaysaywhathepleases,”criedMarytoAnne,assoonashewasoutoftheroom,“butitwouldbeshockingtohaveHenriettamarryCharlesHayteraverybadthingforher,andstillworseformeandthereforeitisverymuchtobewishedthatCaptainWentworthmaysoonputhimquiteoutofherhead,andIhaveverylittledoubtthathehas.ShetookhardlyanynoticeofCharlesHayteryesterday.Iwishyouhadbeentheretoseeherbehaviour.AndastoCaptainWentworth’slikingLouisaaswellasHenrietta,itisnonsensetosaysoforhecertainlydoeslikeHenriettaagreatdealthebest.ButCharlesissopositive!Iwishyouhadbeenwithusyesterday,forthenyoumighthavedecidedbetweenusandIamsureyouwouldhavethoughtasIdid,unlessyouhadbeendeterminedtogiveitagainstme.” AdinneratMrMusgrove’shadbeentheoccasionwhenallthesethingsshouldhavebeenseenbyAnnebutshehadstaidathome,underthemixedpleaofaheadacheofherown,andsomereturnofindispositioninlittleCharles.ShehadthoughtonlyofavoidingCaptainWentworthbutanescapefrombeingappealedtoasumpirewasnowaddedtotheadvantagesofaquietevening. AstoCaptainWentworth’sviews,shedeemeditofmoreconsequencethatheshouldknowhisownmindearlyenoughnottobeendangeringthehappinessofeithersister,orimpeachinghisownhonour,thanthatheshouldpreferHenriettatoLouisa,orLouisatoHenrietta.Eitherofthemwould,inallprobability,makehimanaffectionate,good-humouredwife.WithregardtoCharlesHayter,shehaddelicacywhichmustbepainedbyanylightnessofconductinawell-meaningyoungwoman,andahearttosympathizeinanyofthesufferingsitoccasionedbutifHenriettafoundherselfmistakeninthenatureofherfeelings,thealterationcouldnotbeunderstoodtoosoon. CharlesHayterhadmetwithmuchtodisquietandmortifyhiminhiscousin’sbehaviour.Shehadtoooldaregardforhimtobesowhollyestrangedasmightintwomeetingsextinguisheverypasthope,andleavehimnothingtodobuttokeepawayfromUppercross:buttherewassuchachangeasbecameveryalarming,whensuchamanasCaptainWentworthwastoberegardedast