CHAPTER XIII.

oucanslipinfromtheshrubberyatanytimeandthereyouwillfindwekeepourumbrellashangingupbythatdoor.Agoodplaceisnotit?But,”(checkinghimself),“youwillnotthinkitagoodplace,foryourswerealwayskeptinthebutler’sroom.Ay,soitalwaysis,Ibelieve.Oneman’swaysmaybeasgoodasanother’s,butwealllikeourownbest.Andsoyoumustjudgeforyourself,whetheritwouldbebetterforyoutogoaboutthehouseornot.” Anne,findingshemightdeclineit,didso,verygratefully. “Wehavemadeveryfewchangeseither,”continuedtheAdmiral,afterthinkingamoment.“Veryfew.Wetoldyouaboutthelaundry-door,atUppercross.Thathasbeenaverygreatimprovement.Thewonderwas,howanyfamilyuponearthcouldbearwiththeinconvenienceofitsopeningasitdid,solong!YouwilltellSirWalterwhatwehavedone,andthatMrShepherdthinksitthegreatestimprovementthehouseeverhad.Indeed,Imustdoourselvesthejusticetosay,thatthefewalterationswehavemadehavebeenallverymuchforthebetter.Mywifeshouldhavethecreditofthem,however.Ihavedoneverylittlebesidessendingawaysomeofthelargelooking-glassesfrommydressing-room,whichwasyourfather’s.Averygoodman,andverymuchthegentlemanIamsure:butIshouldthink,MissElliot,”(lookingwithseriousreflection),“Ishouldthinkhemustberatheradressymanforhistimeoflife.Suchanumberoflooking-glasses!ohLord!therewasnogettingawayfromone’sself.SoIgotSophytolendmeahand,andwesoonshiftedtheirquartersandnowIamquitesnug,withmylittleshavingglassinonecorner,andanothergreatthingthatInevergonear.” Anne,amusedinspiteofherself,wasratherdistressedforananswer,andtheAdmiral,fearinghemightnothavebeencivilenough,tookupthesubjectagain,tosay— “Thenexttimeyouwritetoyourgoodfather,MissElliot,praygivehimmycomplimentsandMrsCroft’s,andsaythatwearesettledherequitetoourliking,andhavenofaultatalltofindwiththeplace.Thebreakfast-roomchimneysmokesalittle,Igrantyou,butitisonlywhenthewindisduenorthandblowshard,whichmaynothappenthreetimesawinter.Andtakeitaltogether,nowthatwehavebeenintomostofthehouseshereaboutsandcanjudge,thereisnotonethatwelikebetterthanthis.Praysayso,withmycompliments.Hewillbegladtohearit.” LadyRussellandMrsCroftwereverywellpleasedwitheachother:buttheacquaintancewhichthisvisitbeganwasfatednottoproceedfaratpresentforwhenitwasreturned,theCroftsannouncedthemselvestobegoingawayforafewweeks,tovisittheirconnexionsinthenorthofthecounty,andprobablymightnotbeathomeagainbeforeLadyRussellwouldberemovingtoBath. SoendedalldangertoAnneofmeetingCaptainWentworthatKellynchHall,orofseeinghimincompanywithherfriend.Everythingwassafeenough,andshesmiledoverthemanyanxiousfeelingsshehadwastedonthesubject.