CHAPTER XII.

ostwilling,ready,happytoremain.“Itwaswhatshehadbeenthinkingof,andwishingtobeallowedtodo.AbedonthefloorinLouisa’sroomwouldbesufficientforher,ifMrsHarvillewouldbutthinkso.” Onethingmore,andallseemedarranged.ThoughitwasratherdesirablethatMrandMrsMusgroveshouldbepreviouslyalarmedbysomeshareofdelayyetthetimerequiredbytheUppercrosshorsestotakethemback,wouldbeadreadfulextensionofsuspenseandCaptainWentworthproposed,andCharlesMusgroveagreed,thatitwouldbemuchbetterforhimtotakeachaisefromtheinn,andleaveMrMusgrove’scarriageandhorsestobesenthomethenextmorningearly,whentherewouldbethefartheradvantageofsendinganaccountofLouisa’snight. CaptainWentworthnowhurriedofftogeteverythingreadyonhispart,andtobesoonfollowedbythetwoladies.WhentheplanwasmadeknowntoMary,however,therewasanendofallpeaceinit.Shewassowretchedandsovehement,complainedsomuchofinjusticeinbeingexpectedtogoawayinsteadofAnneAnne,whowasnothingtoLouisa,whileshewashersister,andhadthebestrighttostayinHenrietta’sstead!WhywasnotshetobeasusefulasAnne?AndtogohomewithoutCharles,too,withoutherhusband!No,itwastoounkind.Andinshort,shesaidmorethanherhusbandcouldlongwithstand,andasnoneoftheotherscouldopposewhenhegaveway,therewasnohelpforitthechangeofMaryforAnnewasinevitable. Annehadneversubmittedmorereluctantlytothejealousandill-judgingclaimsofMarybutsoitmustbe,andtheysetoffforthetown,Charlestakingcareofhissister,andCaptainBenwickattendingtoher.Shegaveamoment’srecollection,astheyhurriedalong,tothelittlecircumstanceswhichthesamespotshadwitnessedearlierinthemorning.ThereshehadlistenedtoHenrietta’sschemesforDrShirley’sleavingUppercrossfartheron,shehadfirstseenMrElliotamomentseemedallthatcouldnowbegiventoanyonebutLouisa,orthosewhowerewraptupinherwelfare. CaptainBenwickwasmostconsideratelyattentivetoherand,unitedastheyallseemedbythedistressoftheday,shefeltanincreasingdegreeofgood-willtowardshim,andapleasureeveninthinkingthatitmight,perhaps,betheoccasionofcontinuingtheiracquaintance. CaptainWentworthwasonthewatchforthem,andachaiseandfourinwaiting,stationedfortheirconvenienceinthelowestpartofthestreetbuthisevidentsurpriseandvexationatthesubstitutionofonesisterfortheother,thechangeinhiscountenance,theastonishment,theexpressionsbegunandsuppressed,withwhichCharleswaslistenedto,madebutamortifyingreceptionofAnneormustatleastconvinceherthatshewasvaluedonlyasshecouldbeusefultoLouisa. Sheendeavouredtobecomposed,andtobejust.WithoutemulatingthefeelingsofanEmmatowardsherHenry,shewouldhaveattendedonLouisawithazealabovethecommonclaimsofregard,forhissakeandshehopedhewouldnotlongbesounjustastosupposeshewouldshrinkunnecessarilyfromtheofficeofafriend. Inthemeanwhileshewasinthecarriage.Hehadhandedthembothin,andplacedhimselfbetweenthemandinthismanner,underthesecircumstances,fullofastonishmentandemotiontoAnne,shequittedLyme.Howthelongstagewouldpasshowitwastoaffecttheirmannerswhatwastobetheirsortofintercourse,shecouldnotforesee.Itwasallquitenatural,however.HewasdevotedtoHenriettaalwaysturningtowardsherandwhenhespokeatall,alwayswiththeviewofsupportingherhopesandraisingherspirits.Ingeneral,hisvoiceandmannerwerestudiouslycalm.TospareHenriettafromagitationseemedthegoverningprinciple.Onceonly,whenshehadbeengrievingoverthelastill-judged,ill-fatedwalktotheCobb,bitterlylamentingthatiteverhadbeenthoughtof,heburstforth,asifwhollyovercome— “Don’ttalkofit,don’ttalkofit,”hecried.“OhGod!thatIhadnotgivenwaytoheratthefatalmoment!HadIdoneasIought!Butsoeagerandsoresolute!Dear,sweetLouisa!” Annewonderedwhetheriteveroccurredtohimnow,toquestionthejustnessofhisownpreviousopinionastotheuniversalfelicityandadvantageoffirmnessofcharacterandwhetheritmightnotstrikehimthat,likeallotherqualitiesofthemind,itshouldhaveitsproportionsandlimits.Shethoughtitcouldscarcelyescapehimtofeelthatapersuadabletempermightsometimesbeasmuchinfavourofhappinessasaveryresolutecharacter. Theygotonfast.Annewasastonishedtorecognisethesamehillsandthesameobjectssosoon.Theiractualspeed,heightenedbysomedreadoftheconclusion,madetheroadappearbuthalfaslongasonthedaybefore.Itwasgrowingquitedusk,however,beforetheywereintheneighbourhoodofUppercross,andtherehadbeentotalsilenceamongthemforsometime,Henriettaleaningbackinthecorner,withashawloverherface,givingthehopeofherhavingcriedherselftosleepwhen,astheyweregoinguptheirlasthill,AnnefoundherselfallatonceaddressedbyCaptainWentworth.Inalow,cautiousvoice,hesaid:— “Ihavebeenconsideringwhatwehadbestdo.Shemustnotappearatfirst.Shecouldnotstandit.Ihavebeenthinkingwhetheryouhadnotbetterremaininthecarriagewithher,whileIgoinandbreakittoMrandMrsMusgrove.Doyouthinkthisisagoodplan?” Shedid:hewassatisfied,andsaidnomore.Buttheremembranceoftheappealremainedapleasuretoher,asaproofoffriendship,andofdeferenceforherjudgement,agreatpleasureandwhenitbecameasortofpartingproof,itsvaluedidnotlessen. WhenthedistressingcommunicationatUppercrosswasover,andhehadseenthefatherandmotherquiteascomposedascouldbehoped,andthedaughterallthebetterforbeingwiththem,heannouncedhisintentionofreturninginthesamecarriagetoLymeandwhenthehorseswerebaited,hewasoff. (Endofvolumeone.)