CHAPTER XIII.
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s,asitsuited,andthereremaintilldearLouisacouldbemoved.TheymustbetakingoffsometroublefromthegoodpeopleshewaswiththeymightatleastrelieveMrsHarvillefromthecareofherownchildrenandinshort,theyweresohappyinthedecision,thatAnnewasdelightedwithwhatshehaddone,andfeltthatshecouldnotspendherlastmorningatUppercrossbetterthaninassistingtheirpreparations,andsendingthemoffatanearlyhour,thoughherbeinglefttothesolitaryrangeofthehousewastheconsequence.
Shewasthelast,exceptingthelittleboysatthecottage,shewastheverylast,theonlyremainingoneofallthathadfilledandanimatedbothhouses,ofallthathadgivenUppercrossitscheerfulcharacter.Afewdayshadmadeachangeindeed!
IfLouisarecovered,itwouldallbewellagain.Morethanformerhappinesswouldberestored.Therecouldnotbeadoubt,tohermindtherewasnone,ofwhatwouldfollowherrecovery.Afewmonthshence,andtheroomnowsodeserted,occupiedbutbyhersilent,pensiveself,mightbefilledagainwithallthatwashappyandgay,allthatwasglowingandbrightinprosperouslove,allthatwasmostunlikeAnneElliot!
Anhour’scompleteleisureforsuchreflectionsasthese,onadarkNovemberday,asmallthickrainalmostblottingouttheveryfewobjectsevertobediscernedfromthewindows,wasenoughtomakethesoundofLadyRussell’scarriageexceedinglywelcomeandyet,thoughdesiroustobegone,shecouldnotquittheMansionHouse,orlookanadieutotheCottage,withitsblack,drippingandcomfortlessveranda,orevennoticethroughthemistyglassesthelasthumbletenementsofthevillage,withoutasaddenedheart.SceneshadpassedinUppercrosswhichmadeitprecious.Itstoodtherecordofmanysensationsofpain,oncesevere,butnowsoftenedandofsomeinstancesofrelentingfeeling,somebreathingsoffriendshipandreconciliation,whichcouldneverbelookedforagain,andwhichcouldneverceasetobedear.Sheleftitallbehindher,allbuttherecollectionthatsuchthingshadbeen.
AnnehadneverenteredKellynchsinceherquittingLadyRussell’shouseinSeptember.Ithadnotbeennecessary,andthefewoccasionsofitsbeingpossibleforhertogototheHallshehadcontrivedtoevadeandescapefrom.HerfirstreturnwastoresumeherplaceinthemodernandelegantapartmentsoftheLodge,andtogladdentheeyesofitsmistress.
TherewassomeanxietymixedwithLadyRussell’sjoyinmeetingher.SheknewwhohadbeenfrequentingUppercross.Buthappily,eitherAnnewasimprovedinplumpnessandlooks,orLadyRussellfanciedhersoandAnne,inreceivinghercomplimentsontheoccasion,hadtheamusementofconnectingthemwiththesilentadmirationofhercousin,andofhopingthatshewastobeblessedwithasecondspringofyouthandbeauty.
Whentheycametoconverse,shewassoonsensibleofsomementalchange.ThesubjectsofwhichherhearthadbeenfullonleavingKe