CHAPTER XIV.

ThoughCharlesandMaryhadremainedatLymemuchlongerafterMrandMrsMusgrove’sgoingthanAnneconceivedtheycouldhavebeenatallwanted,theywereyetthefirstofthefamilytobeathomeagainandassoonaspossibleaftertheirreturntoUppercrosstheydroveovertotheLodge.TheyhadleftLouisabeginningtositupbutherhead,thoughclear,wasexceedinglyweak,andhernervessusceptibletothehighestextremeoftendernessandthoughshemightbepronouncedtobealtogetherdoingverywell,itwasstillimpossibletosaywhenshemightbeabletobeartheremovalhomeandherfatherandmother,whomustreturnintimetoreceivetheiryoungerchildrenfortheChristmasholidays,hadhardlyahopeofbeingallowedtobringherwiththem. Theyhadbeenallinlodgingstogether.MrsMusgrovehadgotMrsHarville’schildrenawayasmuchasshecould,everypossiblesupplyfromUppercrosshadbeenfurnished,tolightentheinconveniencetotheHarvilles,whiletheHarvilleshadbeenwantingthemtocometodinnereverydayandinshort,itseemedtohavebeenonlyastruggleoneachsideastowhichshouldbemostdisinterestedandhospitable. Maryhadhadherevilsbutuponthewhole,aswasevidentbyherstayingsolong,shehadfoundmoretoenjoythantosuffer.CharlesHayterhadbeenatLymeoftenerthansuitedherandwhentheydinedwiththeHarvillestherehadbeenonlyamaid-servanttowait,andatfirstMrsHarvillehadalwaysgivenMrsMusgroveprecedencebutthen,shehadreceivedsoveryhandsomeanapologyfromheronfindingoutwhosedaughtershewas,andtherehadbeensomuchgoingoneveryday,therehadbeensomanywalksbetweentheirlodgingsandtheHarvilles,andshehadgotbooksfromthelibrary,andchangedthemsooften,thatthebalancehadcertainlybeenmuchinfavourofLyme.ShehadbeentakentoCharmouthtoo,andshehadbathed,andshehadgonetochurch,andtherewereagreatmanymorepeopletolookatinthechurchatLymethanatUppercrossandallthis,joinedtothesenseofbeingsoveryuseful,hadmadereallyanagreeablefortnight. AnneenquiredafterCaptainBenwick.Mary’sfacewascloudeddirectly.Charleslaughed. “Oh!CaptainBenwickisverywell,Ibelieve,butheisaveryoddyoungman.Idonotknowwhathewouldbeat.Weaskedhimtocomehomewithusforadayortwo:Charlesundertooktogivehimsomeshooting,andheseemedquitedelighted,and,formypart,Ithoughtitwasallsettledwhenbehold!onTuesdaynight,hemadeaveryawkwardsortofexcuse‘henevershot’andhehad‘beenquitemisunderstood,’andhehadpromisedthisandhehadpromisedthat,andtheendofitwas,Ifound,thathedidnotmeantocome.IsupposehewasafraidoffindingitdullbutuponmywordI