CHAPTER IX.

heprobablecause.HehadbeenabsentonlytwoSundays,andwhentheyparted,hadleftherinterested,eventotheheightofhiswishes,inhisprospectofsoonquittinghispresentcuracy,andobtainingthatofUppercrossinstead.Ithadthenseemedtheobjectnearestherheart,thatDrShirley,therector,whoformorethanfortyyearshadbeenzealouslydischargingallthedutiesofhisoffice,butwasnowgrowingtooinfirmformanyofthem,shouldbequitefixedonengagingacurateshouldmakehiscuracyquiteasgoodashecouldafford,andshouldgiveCharlesHayterthepromiseofit.TheadvantageofhishavingtocomeonlytoUppercross,insteadofgoingsixmilesanotherwayofhishaving,ineveryrespect,abettercuracyofhisbelongingtotheirdearDrShirley,andofdear,goodDrShirley’sbeingrelievedfromthedutywhichhecouldnolongergetthroughwithoutmostinjuriousfatigue,hadbeenagreatdeal,eventoLouisa,buthadbeenalmosteverythingtoHenrietta.Whenhecameback,alas!thezealofthebusinesswasgoneby.LouisacouldnotlistenatalltohisaccountofaconversationwhichhehadjustheldwithDrShirley:shewasatawindow,lookingoutforCaptainWentworthandevenHenriettahadatbestonlyadividedattentiontogive,andseemedtohaveforgottenalltheformerdoubtandsolicitudeofthenegotiation. “Well,Iamverygladindeed:butIalwaysthoughtyouwouldhaveitIalwaysthoughtyousure.Itdidnotappeartomethat—inshort,youknow,DrShirleymusthaveacurate,andyouhadsecuredhispromise.Ishecoming,Louisa?” Onemorning,verysoonafterthedinnerattheMusgroves,atwhichAnnehadnotbeenpresent,CaptainWentworthwalkedintothedrawing-roomattheCottage,wherewereonlyherselfandthelittleinvalidCharles,whowaslyingonthesofa. ThesurpriseoffindinghimselfalmostalonewithAnneElliot,deprivedhismannersoftheirusualcomposure:hestarted,andcouldonlysay,“IthoughttheMissMusgroveshadbeenhere:MrsMusgrovetoldmeIshouldfindthemhere,”beforehewalkedtothewindowtorecollecthimself,andfeelhowheoughttobehave. “Theyareupstairswithmysister:theywillbedowninafewmoments,Idaresay,”hadbeenAnne’sreply,inalltheconfusionthatwasnaturalandifthechildhadnotcalledhertocomeanddosomethingforhim,shewouldhavebeenoutoftheroomthenextmoment,andreleasedCaptainWentworthaswellasherself. Hecontinuedatthewindowandaftercalmlyandpolitelysaying,“Ihopethelittleboyisbetter,”wassilent. Shewasobligedtokneeldownbythesofa,andremaintheretosatisfyherpatientandthustheycontinuedafewminutes,when,toherverygreatsatisfaction,sheheardsomeotherpersoncrossingthelittlevestibule.Shehoped,onturningherhead,toseethemasterofthehousebutitprovedtobeonemuchlesscalculatedformakingmatterseasy—CharlesHayter,probablynotatallbetterpleasedbythesightofCaptainWentworththanCaptainWentworthhadbeenbythesightofAnne. Sheonlyattemptedtosay,“Howdoyoudo?Willyounotsitdown?Theotherswillbeherepresently.” CaptainWentwo