CHAPTER IX.

rth,however,camefromhiswindow,apparentlynotill-disposedforconversationbutCharlesHaytersoonputanendtohisattemptsbyseatinghimselfnearthetable,andtakingupthenewspaperandCaptainWentworthreturnedtohiswindow. Anotherminutebroughtanotheraddition.Theyoungerboy,aremarkablestout,forwardchild,oftwoyearsold,havinggotthedooropenedforhimbysomeonewithout,madehisdeterminedappearanceamongthem,andwentstraighttothesofatoseewhatwasgoingon,andputinhisclaimtoanythinggoodthatmightbegivingaway. Therebeingnothingtoeat,hecouldonlyhavesomeplayandashisauntwouldnotlethimteasehissickbrother,hebegantofastenhimselfuponher,assheknelt,insuchawaythat,busyasshewasaboutCharles,shecouldnotshakehimoff.Shespoketohim,ordered,entreated,andinsistedinvain.Onceshedidcontrivetopushhimaway,buttheboyhadthegreaterpleasureingettinguponherbackagaindirectly. “Walter,”saidshe,“getdownthismoment.Youareextremelytroublesome.Iamveryangrywithyou.” “Walter,”criedCharlesHayter,“whydoyounotdoasyouarebid?Donotyouhearyourauntspeak?Cometome,Walter,cometocousinCharles.” ButnotabitdidWalterstir. Inanothermoment,however,shefoundherselfinthestateofbeingreleasedfromhimsomeonewastakinghimfromher,thoughhehadbentdownherheadsomuch,thathislittlesturdyhandswereunfastenedfromaroundherneck,andhewasresolutelyborneaway,beforesheknewthatCaptainWentworthhaddoneit. Hersensationsonthediscoverymadeherperfectlyspeechless.Shecouldnoteventhankhim.ShecouldonlyhangoverlittleCharles,withmostdisorderedfeelings.Hiskindnessinsteppingforwardtoherrelief,themanner,thesilenceinwhichithadpassed,thelittleparticularsofthecircumstance,withtheconvictionsoonforcedonherbythenoisehewasstudiouslymakingwiththechild,thathemeanttoavoidhearingherthanks,andrathersoughttotestifythatherconversationwasthelastofhiswants,producedsuchaconfusionofvarying,butverypainfulagitation,asshecouldnotrecoverfrom,tillenabledbytheentranceofMaryandtheMissMusgrovestomakeoverherlittlepatienttotheircares,andleavetheroom.Shecouldnotstay.Itmighthavebeenanopportunityofwatchingthelovesandjealousiesofthefour—theywerenowaltogetherbutshecouldstayfornoneofit.ItwasevidentthatCharlesHayterwasnotwellinclinedtowardsCaptainWentworth.Shehadastrongimpressionofhishavingsaid,inavexttoneofvoice,afterCaptainWentworth’sinterference,“Yououghttohavemindedme,WalterItoldyounottoteazeyouraunt”andcouldcomprehendhisregrettingthatCaptainWentworthshoulddowhatheoughttohavedonehimself.ButneitherCharlesHayter’sfeelings,noranybody’sfeelings,couldinteresther,tillshehadalittlebetterarrangedherown.Shewasashamedofherself,quiteashamedofbeingsonervous,soovercomebysuchatriflebutsoitwas,anditrequiredalongapplicationofsolitudeandreflectiontorecoverher.