CHAPTER XI.

ThetimenowapproachedforLadyRussell’sreturn:thedaywasevenfixedandAnne,beingengagedtojoinherassoonasshewasresettled,waslookingforwardtoanearlyremovaltoKellynch,andbeginningtothinkhowherowncomfortwaslikelytobeaffectedbyit. ItwouldplaceherinthesamevillagewithCaptainWentworth,withinhalfamileofhimtheywouldhavetofrequentthesamechurch,andtheremustbeintercoursebetweenthetwofamilies.Thiswasagainstherbutontheotherhand,hespentsomuchofhistimeatUppercross,thatinremovingthenceshemightbeconsideredratherasleavinghimbehind,thanasgoingtowardshimand,uponthewhole,shebelievedshemust,onthisinterestingquestion,bethegainer,almostascertainlyasinherchangeofdomesticsociety,inleavingpoorMaryforLadyRussell. ShewisheditmightbepossibleforhertoavoideverseeingCaptainWentworthattheHall:thoseroomshadwitnessedformermeetingswhichwouldbebroughttoopainfullybeforeherbutshewasyetmoreanxiousforthepossibilityofLadyRussellandCaptainWentworthnevermeetinganywhere.Theydidnotlikeeachother,andnorenewalofacquaintancenowcoulddoanygoodandwereLadyRusselltoseethemtogether,shemightthinkthathehadtoomuchself-possession,andshetoolittle. ThesepointsformedherchiefsolicitudeinanticipatingherremovalfromUppercross,whereshefeltshehadbeenstationedquitelongenough.HerusefulnesstolittleCharleswouldalwaysgivesomesweetnesstothememoryofhertwomonths’visitthere,buthewasgainingstrengthapace,andshehadnothingelsetostayfor. Theconclusionofhervisit,however,wasdiversifiedinawaywhichshehadnotatallimagined.CaptainWentworth,afterbeingunseenandunheardofatUppercrossfortwowholedays,appearedagainamongthemtojustifyhimselfbyarelationofwhathadkepthimaway. Aletterfromhisfriend,CaptainHarville,havingfoundhimoutatlast,hadbroughtintelligenceofCaptainHarville’sbeingsettledwithhisfamilyatLymeforthewinteroftheirbeingtherefore,quiteunknowingly,withintwentymilesofeachother.CaptainHarvillehadneverbeeningoodhealthsinceaseverewoundwhichhereceivedtwoyearsbefore,andCaptainWentworth’sanxietytoseehimhaddeterminedhimtogoimmediatelytoLyme.Hehadbeenthereforfour-and-twentyhours.Hisacquittalwascomplete,hisfriendshipwarmlyhonoured,alivelyinterestexcitedforhisfriend,andhisdescriptionofthefinecountryaboutLymesofeelinglyattendedtobytheparty,thatanearnestdesiretoseeLymethemselves,andaprojectforgoingthitherwastheconsequence. TheyoungpeoplewereallwildtoseeLyme.CaptainWentworthtalkedofgoingthereagainhimself,itwasonlyseventeenmilesfromUppercrossthoughNovember,theweatherwasbynomeansbadand,inshort,Louisa,whowasthemosteageroftheeager,havingformedtheresolutiontogo,andbesidesthepleasureofdoingassheliked,beingnowarmedwiththeideaofmeritinmaintainingherownway,boredownallthewishesofherfatherandmotherforputtingitofftillsummerandtoLymetheyweretogo—Charles,Mary,Anne,Henrietta,Louisa,andCaptainWentworth. ThefirstheedlessschemehadbeentogointhemorningandreturnatnightbuttothisMrMusgrove,forthesakeofhishorses,wouldnotconsentandwhenitcametoberatio