CHAPTER XXII.

companion.ShesawMrsClayfairlyoff,therefore,beforeshebegantotalkofspendingthemorninginRiversStreet. “Verywell,”saidElizabeth,“Ihavenothingtosendbutmylove.Oh!youmayaswelltakebackthattiresomebookshewouldlendme,andpretendIhavereaditthrough.Ireallycannotbeplaguingmyselfforeverwithallthenewpoemsandstatesofthenationthatcomeout.LadyRussellquiteboresonewithhernewpublications.Youneednottellherso,butIthoughtherdresshideoustheothernight.Iusedtothinkshehadsometasteindress,butIwasashamedofherattheconcert.Somethingsoformalandarrangéinherair!andshesitssoupright!Mybestlove,ofcourse.” “Andmine,”addedSirWalter.“Kindestregards.Andyoumaysay,thatImeantocalluponhersoon.MakeacivilmessagebutIshallonlyleavemycard.Morningvisitsareneverfairbywomenathertimeoflife,whomakethemselvesupsolittle.IfshewouldonlywearrougeshewouldnotbeafraidofbeingseenbutlasttimeIcalled,Iobservedtheblindswereletdownimmediately.” Whileherfatherspoke,therewasaknockatthedoor.Whocoulditbe?Anne,rememberingthepreconcertedvisits,atallhours,ofMrElliot,wouldhaveexpectedhim,butforhisknownengagementsevenmilesoff.Aftertheusualperiodofsuspense,theusualsoundsofapproachwereheard,and“MrandMrsCharlesMusgrove”wereusheredintotheroom. SurprisewasthestrongestemotionraisedbytheirappearancebutAnnewasreallygladtoseethemandtheotherswerenotsosorrybutthattheycouldputonadecentairofwelcomeandassoonasitbecameclearthatthese,theirnearestrelations,werenotarrivedwithanyviewsofaccommodationinthathouse,SirWalterandElizabethwereabletoriseincordiality,anddothehonoursofitverywell.TheywerecometoBathforafewdayswithMrsMusgrove,andwereattheWhiteHart.SomuchwasprettysoonunderstoodbuttillSirWalterandElizabethwerewalkingMaryintotheotherdrawing-room,andregalingthemselveswithheradmiration,AnnecouldnotdrawuponCharles’sbrainforaregularhistoryoftheircoming,oranexplanationofsomesmilinghintsofparticularbusiness,whichhadbeenostentatiouslydroppedbyMary,aswellasofsomeapparentconfusionastowhomtheirpartyconsistedof. ShethenfoundthatitconsistedofMrsMusgrove,Henrietta,andCaptainHarville,besidetheirtwoselves.Hegaveheraveryplain,intelligibleaccountofthewholeanarrationinwhichshesawagreatdealofmostcharacteristicproceeding.TheschemehadreceiveditsfirstimpulsebyCaptainHarville’swantingtocometoBathonbusiness.Hehadbeguntotalkofitaweekagoandbywayofdoingsomething,asshootingwasover,Charleshadproposedcomingwithhim,andMrsHarvillehadseemedtoliketheideaofitverymuch,asanadvantagetoherhusbandbutMarycouldnotbeartobeleft,andhadmadeherselfsounhappyaboutit,thatforadayortwoeverythingseemedtobeinsuspense,oratanend.Butthen,ithadbeentakenupbyhisfatherandmother.HismotherhadsomeoldfriendsinBathwhomshewantedtoseeitwasthoughtagoodopportunityforHenriettatocomeandbuywedding-clothesforherselfandhersisterand,inshort,itendedinbeinghismother’sparty,thateverythingmightbecomfortableandeasytoCaptainHarvilleandheandMarywereincludedinitbywayofgeneralconvenience.Theyhadarrivedlatethenightbefore.MrsHarville,herchildren,andCaptainBenwick,remainedwithMrMusgroveandLouisaatUppercross. Anne’sonlysurprisewas,thataffairsshouldbeinforwardnessenoughforHenrietta’swedding-clothestobetalkedof.ShehadimaginedsuchdifficultiesoffortunetoexistthereasmustpreventthemarriagefrombeingnearathandbutshelearnedfromCharlesthat,veryrecently,(sinceMary’slastlettertoherself),CharlesHayterhadbeenappliedtobyafriendtoholdalivingforayouthwhocouldnotpossiblyclaimitundermanyyearsandthatonthestrengthofhispresentincome,withalmostacertaintyofsomethingmorepermanentlongbeforetheterminquestion,thetwofamilieshadconsentedtotheyoungpeople’swishes,andthattheirmarriagewaslikelytotakeplaceinafewmonths,quiteassoonasLouisa’s.“Andaverygoodlivingitwas,”Charlesadded:“onlyfive-and-twentymilesfromUppercross,andinaveryfinecountry:finepartofDorsetshire.Inthecentreofsomeofthebestpreservesinthekingdom,surroundedbythreegreatproprietors,eachmorecarefulandjealousthantheotherandtotwoofthethreeatleast,CharlesHaytermightgetaspecialrecommendation.Notthathewillvalueitasheought,”heobserved,“Charlesistoocoolaboutsporting.That’stheworstofhim.” “Iamextremelyglad,indeed,”criedAnne,“particularlygladthatthisshouldhappenandthatoftwosisters,whobothdeserveequallywell,andwhohavealwaysbeensuchgoodfriends,thepleasantprospectofoneshouldnotbedimmingthoseoftheother—thattheyshouldbesoequalintheirprosperityandcomfort.Ihopeyourfatherandmotherarequitehappywithregardtoboth.” “Oh!yes.Myfatherwouldbewellpleasedifthegentlemenwerericher,buthehasnootherfaulttofind.Money,youknow,comingdownwithmoney—twodaughtersatonce—itcannotbeaveryagreeableoperation,anditstreightenshimastomanythings.However,Idonotmeantosaytheyhavenotarighttoit.Itisveryfittheyshouldhavedaughters’sharesandIamsurehehasalwaysbeenaverykind,liberalfathertome.MarydoesnotabovehalflikeHenrietta’smatch.Sheneverdid,youknow.Butshedoesnotdohimjustice,northinkenoughaboutWinthrop.Icannotmakeherattendtothevalueoftheproperty.Itisaveryfairmatch,astimesgoandIhavelikedCharlesHayterallmylife,andIshallnotleaveoffnow.” “SuchexcellentparentsasMrandMrsMusgrove,”exclaimedAnne,“shouldbehappyintheirchildren’smarriages.Theydoeverythingtoconferhappiness,Iamsure.Whatablessingtoyoungpeopletobeinsuchhands!Yourfatherandmotherseemsototallyfreefromallthoseambitiousfeelingswhichhaveledtosomuchmisconductandmisery,bothinyoungandold.IhopeyouthinkLouisaperfectlyrecoverednow?” Heansweredratherhesitatingly,“Yes,IbelieveIdoverymuchrecoveredbutsheisalteredthereisnorunningorjumpingabout,no