CHAPTER X.

ntandcousins,whiletherestofthepartywaitedforthematthetopofthehill.Louisaseemedtheprincipalarrangeroftheplanand,asshewentalittlewaywiththem,downthehill,stilltalkingtoHenrietta,Marytooktheopportunityoflookingscornfullyaroundher,andsayingtoCaptainWentworth— “Itisveryunpleasant,havingsuchconnexions!But,Iassureyou,Ihaveneverbeeninthehouseabovetwiceinmylife.” Shereceivednootheranswer,thananartificial,assentingsmile,followedbyacontemptuousglance,asheturnedaway,whichAnneperfectlyknewthemeaningof. Thebrowofthehill,wheretheyremained,wasacheerfulspot:LouisareturnedandMary,findingacomfortableseatforherselfonthestepofastile,wasverywellsatisfiedsolongastheothersallstoodaboutherbutwhenLouisadrewCaptainWentworthaway,totryforagleaningofnutsinanadjoininghedge-row,andtheyweregonebydegreesquiteoutofsightandsound,Marywashappynolongershequarrelledwithherownseat,wassureLouisahadgotamuchbettersomewhere,andnothingcouldpreventherfromgoingtolookforabetteralso.Sheturnedthroughthesamegate,butcouldnotseethem.Annefoundaniceseatforher,onadrysunnybank,underthehedge-row,inwhichshehadnodoubtoftheirstillbeing,insomespotorother.Marysatdownforamoment,butitwouldnotdoshewassureLouisahadfoundabetterseatsomewhereelse,andshewouldgoontillsheovertookher. Anne,reallytiredherself,wasgladtositdownandsheverysoonheardCaptainWentworthandLouisainthehedge-row,behindher,asifmakingtheirwaybackalongtherough,wildsortofchannel,downthecentre.Theywerespeakingastheydrewnear.Louisa’svoicewasthefirstdistinguished.Sheseemedtobeinthemiddleofsomeeagerspeech.WhatAnnefirstheardwas— “Andso,Imadehergo.Icouldnotbearthatsheshouldbefrightenedfromthevisitbysuchnonsense.What!wouldIbeturnedbackfromdoingathingthatIhaddeterminedtodo,andthatIknewtoberight,bytheairsandinterferenceofsuchaperson,orofanypersonImaysay?No,Ihavenoideaofbeingsoeasilypersuaded.WhenIhavemadeupmymind,IhavemadeitandHenriettaseemedentirelytohavemadeupherstocallatWinthropto-dayandyet,shewasasneargivingitup,outofnonsensicalcomplaisance!” “Shewouldhaveturnedbackthen,butforyou?” “Shewouldindeed.Iamalmostashamedtosayit.” “Happyforher,tohavesuchamindasyoursathand!Afterthehintsyougavejustnow,whichdidbutconfirmmyownobservations,thelasttimeIwasincompanywithhim,Ineednotaffecttohavenocomprehensionofwhatisgoingon.Iseethatmorethanameredutifulmorningvisittoyourauntwasinquestionandwoebetidehim,andhertoo,whenitcomestothingsofconsequence,whentheyareplacedincircumstancesrequiringfortitudeandstrengthofmind,ifshehavenotresolutionenoughtoresistidleinterferenceinsuchatrifleasthis.Yoursisterisanamiablecreaturebutyoursisthecharacterofdecisionandfirmness,Isee.Ifyouvalueherconductorhappiness,infuseasmuchofyourownspiritintoherasyoucan.Butthis,nodoubt,youhavebeenalwaysdoing.Itistheworsteviloftooyieldingandindecisiveacharacter,thatnoinfluenceoveritcanbedependedon.Youareneversureofagoodimpressionbeingdurableeverybodymayswayit.Letthosewhowouldbehappybefirm.Hereisanut,”saidhe,catchingonedownfromanupperbough,“toexemplify:abeautifulglossynut,which,blessedwithoriginalstrength,hasoutlivedallthestormsofautumn.Notapuncture,notaweakspotanywhere.Thisnut,”hecontinued,withplayfulsolemnity,“whilesomanyofhisbrethrenhavefallenandbeentroddenunderfoot,isstillinpossessionofallthehappinessthatahazelnutcanbesupposedcapableof.”Thenreturningtohisformerearnesttone—“MyfirstwishforallwhomIaminterestedin,isthattheyshouldbefirm.IfLouisaMusgrovewouldbebeautifulandhappyinherNovemberoflife,shewillcherishallherpresentpowersofmind.” Hehaddone,andwasunanswered.ItwouldhavesurprisedAnneifLouisacouldhavereadilyansweredsuchasp