CHAPTER XVIII.

ItwasthebeginningofFebruaryandAnne,havingbeenamonthinBath,wasgrowingveryeagerfornewsfromUppercrossandLyme.ShewantedtohearmuchmorethanMaryhadcommunicated.Itwasthreeweekssinceshehadheardatall.SheonlyknewthatHenriettawasathomeagainandthatLouisa,thoughconsideredtoberecoveringfast,wasstillinLymeandshewasthinkingofthemallveryintentlyoneevening,whenathickerletterthanusualfromMarywasdeliveredtoherand,toquickenthepleasureandsurprise,withAdmiralandMrsCroft’scompliments. TheCroftsmustbeinBath!Acircumstancetointeresther.Theywerepeoplewhomherheartturnedtoverynaturally. “Whatisthis?”criedSirWalter.“TheCroftshavearrivedinBath?TheCroftswhorentKellynch?Whathavetheybroughtyou?” “AletterfromUppercrossCottage,Sir.” “Oh!thoselettersareconvenientpassports.Theysecureanintroduction.IshouldhavevisitedAdmiralCroft,however,atanyrate.Iknowwhatisduetomytenant.” AnnecouldlistennolongershecouldnotevenhavetoldhowthepoorAdmiral’scomplexionescapedherletterengrossedher.Ithadbeenbegunseveraldaysback. “February1st. “MYDEARANNE, Imakenoapologyformysilence,becauseIknowhowlittlepeoplethinkoflettersinsuchaplaceasBath.YoumustbeagreatdealtoohappytocareforUppercross,which,asyouwellknow,affordslittletowriteabout.WehavehadaverydullChristmasMrandMrsMusgrovehavenothadonedinnerpartyalltheholidays.IdonotreckontheHaytersasanybody.Theholidays,however,areoveratlast:Ibelievenochildreneverhadsuchlongones.IamsureIhadnot.Thehousewasclearedyesterday,exceptofthelittleHarvillesbutyouwillbesurprisedtoheartheyhavenevergonehome.MrsHarvillemustbeanoddmothertopartwiththemsolong.Idonotunderstandit.Theyarenotatallnicechildren,inmyopinionbutMrsMusgroveseemstolikethemquiteaswell,ifnotbetter,thanhergrandchildren.Whatdreadfulweatherwehavehad!ItmaynotbefeltinBath,withyournicepavementsbutinthecountryitisofsomeconsequence.IhavenothadacreaturecallonmesincethesecondweekinJanuary,exceptCharlesHayter,whohadbeencallingmuchoftenerthanwaswelcome.Betweenourselves,IthinkitagreatpityHenriettadidnotremainatLymeaslongasLouisaitwouldhavekeptheralittleoutofhisway.Thecarriageisgoneto-day,tobringLouisaandtheHarvillesto-morrow.Wearenotaskedtodinewiththem,however,tillthedayafter,MrsMusgroveissoafraidofherbeingfatiguedbythejourney,whichisnotverylikely,consideringthecarethatwillbetakenofheranditwouldbemuchmoreconvenienttometodinethereto-morrow.IamgladyoufindMrElliotsoagreeable,andwishIcouldbeacquaintedwithhimtoobutIhavemyusualluck:Iamalwaysoutofthewaywhenanythingdesirableisgoingonalwaysthelastofmyfamilytobenoticed.WhatanimmensetimeMrsClayhasbeenstayingwithElizabeth!Doesshenevermeantogoaway?Butperhapsifsheweretoleavetheroomvacant,wemightnotbeinvited.Letmeknowwhatyouthinkofthis.Idonotexpectmychildrentobeasked,youknow.IcanleavethemattheGreatHouseverywell,foramonthorsixweeks.IhavethismomentheardthattheCroftsaregoingtoBathalmostimmediatelytheythinktheAdmiralgouty.Charleshearditquitebychancetheyhavenothadthecivilitytogivemeanynotice,orofofferingtotakeanything.Idonotthinktheyimproveatallasneighbours.Weseenothingofthem,andthisisreallyaninstanceofgrossinattention.Charlesjoinsmeinlove,andeverythingproper.Yoursaffectionately, “MARYM——.” “IamsorrytosaythatIamveryfarfromwellandJemimahasjusttoldmethatthebutchersaysthereisabadsore-throatverymuchabout.IdaresayIshallcatchitandmysore-throats,youknow,arealwaysworsethananybody’s.” Soendedthefirstpart,whichhadbeenafterwardsputintoanenvelope,containingnearlyasmuchmore. “Ikeptmyletteropen,thatImightsendyouwordhowLouisaboreherjourney,andnowIamextremelygladIdid,havingagreatdealtoadd.Inthefirstplace,IhadanotefromMrsCroftyesterday,offeringtoconveyanythingtoyouaverykind,friendlynoteindeed,addressedto