CHAPTER XVIII.

me,justasitoughtIshallthereforebeabletomakemyletteraslongasIlike.TheAdmiraldoesnotseemveryill,andIsincerelyhopeBathwilldohimallthegoodhewants.Ishallbetrulygladtohavethembackagain.Ourneighbourhoodcannotsparesuchapleasantfamily.ButnowforLouisa.Ihavesomethingtocommunicatethatwillastonishyounotalittle.SheandtheHarvillescameonTuesdayverysafely,andintheeveningwewenttoaskherhowshedid,whenwewererathersurprisednottofindCaptainBenwickoftheparty,forhehadbeeninvitedaswellastheHarvillesandwhatdoyouthinkwasthereason?NeithermorenorlessthanhisbeinginlovewithLouisa,andnotchoosingtoventuretoUppercrosstillhehadhadananswerfromMrMusgroveforitwasallsettledbetweenhimandherbeforeshecameaway,andhehadwrittentoherfatherbyCaptainHarville.True,uponmyhonour!Arenotyouastonished?Ishallbesurprisedatleastifyoueverreceivedahintofit,forIneverdid.MrsMusgroveprotestssolemnlythatsheknewnothingofthematter.Weareallverywellpleased,however,forthoughitisnotequaltohermarryingCaptainWentworth,itisinfinitelybetterthanCharlesHayterandMrMusgrovehaswrittenhisconsent,andCaptainBenwickisexpectedto-day.MrsHarvillesaysherhusbandfeelsagooddealonhispoorsister’saccountbut,however,Louisaisagreatfavouritewithboth.Indeed,MrsHarvilleandIquiteagreethatweloveherthebetterforhavingnursedher.CharleswonderswhatCaptainWentworthwillsaybutifyouremember,IneverthoughthimattachedtoLouisaInevercouldseeanythingofit.Andthisistheend,yousee,ofCaptainBenwick’sbeingsupposedtobeanadmirerofyours.HowCharlescouldtakesuchathingintohisheadwasalwaysincomprehensibletome.Ihopehewillbemoreagreeablenow.CertainlynotagreatmatchforLouisaMusgrove,butamilliontimesbetterthanmarryingamongtheHayters.” Maryneednothavefearedhersister’sbeinginanydegreepreparedforthenews.Shehadneverinherlifebeenmoreastonished.CaptainBenwickandLouisaMusgrove!Itwasalmosttoowonderfulforbelief,anditwaswiththegreatesteffortthatshecouldremainintheroom,preserveanairofcalmness,andanswerthecommonquestionsofthemoment.Happilyforher,theywerenotmany.SirWalterwantedtoknowwhethertheCroftstravelledwithfourhorses,andwhethertheywerelikelytobesituatedinsuchapartofBathasitmightsuitMissElliotandhimselftovisitinbuthadlittlecuriositybeyond. “HowisMary?”saidElizabethandwithoutwaitingforananswer,“AndpraywhatbringstheCroftstoBath?” “TheycomeontheAdmiral’saccount.Heisthoughttobegouty.” “Goutanddecrepitude!”saidSirWalter.“Pooroldgentleman.” “Havetheyanyacquaintancehere?”askedElizabeth. “IdonotknowbutIcanhardlysupposethat,atAdmiralCroft’stimeoflife,andinhisprofession,heshouldnothavemanyacquaintanceinsuchaplaceasthis.” “Isuspect,”saidSirWaltercoolly,“thatAdmiralCroftwillbebestknowninBathastherenterofKellynchHall.Elizabeth,mayweventuretopresenthimandhiswifeinLauraPlace?” “Oh,no!Ithinknot.SituatedaswearewithLadyDalrymple,cousins,weoughttobeverycarefulnottoembarrassherwithacquaintanceshemightnotapprove.Ifwewerenotrelated,itwouldnotsignifybutascousins,shewouldfeelscrupulousastoanyproposalofours.WehadbetterleavetheCroftstofindtheirownlevel.Thereareseveralodd-lookingmenwalkingabouthere,who,Iamtold,aresailors.TheCroftswillassociatewiththem.” ThiswasSirWalterandElizabeth’sshareofinterestintheletterwhenMrsClayhadpaidhertributeofmoredecentattention,inanenquiryafterMrsCharlesMusgrove,andherfinelittleboys,Annewasatliberty. Inherownroom,shetriedtocomprehendit.WellmightCharleswonderhowCaptainWentworthwouldfeel!Perhapshehadquittedthefield,hadgivenLouisaup,hadceasedtolove,hadfoundhedidnotloveher.Shecouldnotenduretheideaoftreacheryorlevity,oranythingakintoillusagebetweenhimandhisfriend.Shecouldnotendurethatsuchafriendshipastheirsshouldbeseveredunfairly. CaptainBenwickandLouisaMusgrove!Thehigh-spirited,joyous-talkingLouisaMusgr