CHAPTER XIII.

TheremainderofAnne’stimeatUppercross,comprehendingonlytwodays,wasspententirelyattheMansionHouseandshehadthesatisfactionofknowingherselfextremelyusefulthere,bothasanimmediatecompanion,andasassistinginallthosearrangementsforthefuture,which,inMrandMrsMusgrove’sdistressedstateofspirits,wouldhavebeendifficulties. TheyhadanearlyaccountfromLymethenextmorning.Louisawasmuchthesame.Nosymptomsworsethanbeforehadappeared.Charlescameafewhoursafterwards,tobringalaterandmoreparticularaccount.Hewastolerablycheerful.Aspeedycuremustnotbehoped,buteverythingwasgoingonaswellasthenatureofthecaseadmitted.InspeakingoftheHarvilles,heseemedunabletosatisfyhisownsenseoftheirkindness,especiallyofMrsHarville’sexertionsasanurse.“ShereallyleftnothingforMarytodo.HeandMaryhadbeenpersuadedtogoearlytotheirinnlastnight.Maryhadbeenhystericalagainthismorning.Whenhecameaway,shewasgoingtowalkoutwithCaptainBenwick,which,hehoped,woulddohergood.Healmostwishedshehadbeenprevailedontocomehomethedaybeforebutthetruthwas,thatMrsHarvilleleftnothingforanybodytodo.” CharleswastoreturntoLymethesameafternoon,andhisfatherhadatfirsthalfamindtogowithhim,buttheladiescouldnotconsent.Itwouldbegoingonlytomultiplytroubletotheothers,andincreasehisowndistressandamuchbetterschemefollowedandwasactedupon.AchaisewassentforfromCrewkherne,andCharlesconveyedbackafarmoreusefulpersonintheoldnursery-maidofthefamily,onewhohavingbroughtupallthechildren,andseentheverylast,thelingeringandlong-pettedMasterHarry,senttoschoolafterhisbrothers,wasnowlivinginherdesertednurserytomendstockingsanddressalltheblainsandbruisesshecouldgetnearher,andwho,consequently,wasonlytoohappyinbeingallowedtogoandhelpnursedearMissLouisa.VaguewishesofgettingSarahthither,hadoccurredbeforetoMrsMusgroveandHenriettabutwithoutAnne,itwouldhardlyhavebeenresolvedon,andfoundpracticablesosoon. Theywereindebted,thenextday,toCharlesHayter,foralltheminuteknowledgeofLouisa,whichitwassoessentialtoobtaineverytwenty-fourhours.HemadeithisbusinesstogotoLyme,andhisaccountwasstillencouraging.Theintervalsofsenseandconsciousnesswerebelievedtobestronger.EveryreportagreedinCaptainWentworth’sappearingfixedinLyme. Annewastoleavethemonthemorrow,aneventwhichtheyalldreaded.“Whatshouldtheydowithouther?Theywerewretchedcomfortersforoneanother.”Andsomuchwassaidinthisway,thatAnnethoughtshecouldnotdobetterthanimpartamongthemthegeneralinclinationtowhichshewasprivy,andpersuadedthemalltogotoLymeatonce.Shehadlittledifficultyitwassoondeterminedthattheywouldgogoto-morrow,fixthemselvesattheinn,orgetintolodging