CHAPTER XIII.

llynch,andwhichshehadfeltslighted,andbeencompelledtosmotheramongtheMusgroves,werenowbecomebutofsecondaryinterest.ShehadlatelylostsightevenofherfatherandsisterandBath.TheirconcernshadbeensunkunderthoseofUppercrossandwhenLadyRussellrevertedtotheirformerhopesandfears,andspokehersatisfactioninthehouseinCamdenPlace,whichhadbeentaken,andherregretthatMrsClayshouldstillbewiththem,AnnewouldhavebeenashamedtohaveitknownhowmuchmoreshewasthinkingofLymeandLouisaMusgrove,andallheracquaintancetherehowmuchmoreinterestingtoherwasthehomeandthefriendshipoftheHarvillesandCaptainBenwick,thanherownfather’shouseinCamdenPlace,orherownsister’sintimacywithMrsClay.ShewasactuallyforcedtoexertherselftomeetLadyRussellwithanythingliketheappearanceofequalsolicitude,ontopicswhichhadbynaturethefirstclaimonher. Therewasalittleawkwardnessatfirstintheirdiscourseonanothersubject.TheymustspeakoftheaccidentatLyme.LadyRussellhadnotbeenarrivedfiveminutesthedaybefore,whenafullaccountofthewholehadburstonherbutstillitmustbetalkedof,shemustmakeenquiries,shemustregrettheimprudence,lamenttheresult,andCaptainWentworth’snamemustbementionedbyboth.AnnewasconsciousofnotdoingitsowellasLadyRussell.Shecouldnotspeakthename,andlookstraightforwardtoLadyRussell’seye,tillshehadadoptedtheexpedientoftellingherbrieflywhatshethoughtoftheattachmentbetweenhimandLouisa.Whenthiswastold,hisnamedistressedhernolonger. LadyRussellhadonlytolistencomposedly,andwishthemhappy,butinternallyherheartrevelledinangrypleasure,inpleasedcontempt,thatthemanwhoattwenty-threehadseemedtounderstandsomewhatofthevalueofanAnneElliot,should,eightyearsafterwards,becharmedbyaLouisaMusgrove. Thefirstthreeorfourdayspassedmostquietly,withnocircumstancetomarkthemexceptingthereceiptofanoteortwofromLyme,whichfoundtheirwaytoAnne,shecouldnottellhow,andbroughtaratherimprovingaccountofLouisa.Attheendofthatperiod,LadyRussell’spolitenesscouldreposenolonger,andthefainterself-threateningsofthepastbecameinadecidedtone,“ImustcallonMrsCroftIreallymustcalluponhersoon.Anne,haveyoucouragetogowithme,andpayavisitinthathouse?Itwillbesometrialtousboth.” Annedidnotshrinkfromitonthecontrary,shetrulyfeltasshesaid,inobserving— “Ithinkyouareverylikelytosufferthemostofthetwoyourfeelingsarelessreconciledtothechangethanmine.Byremainingintheneighbourhood,Iambecomeinuredtoit.” ShecouldhavesaidmoreonthesubjectforshehadinfactsohighanopinionoftheCrofts,andconsideredherfathersoveryfortunateinhistenants,felttheparishtobesosureofagoodexample,andthepoorofthebestattentionandrelief,thathowevers