CHAPTER XIII.

關燈
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