CHAPTER XXIV.

tLadyRussellhadnowtodo.ShemustlearntofeelthatshehadbeenmistakenwithregardtoboththatshehadbeenunfairlyinfluencedbyappearancesineachthatbecauseCaptainWentworth’smannershadnotsuitedherownideas,shehadbeentooquickinsuspectingthemtoindicateacharacterofdangerousimpetuosityandthatbecauseMrElliot’smannershadpreciselypleasedherintheirproprietyandcorrectness,theirgeneralpolitenessandsuavity,shehadbeentooquickinreceivingthemasthecertainresultofthemostcorrectopinionsandwell-regulatedmind.TherewasnothinglessforLadyRusselltodo,thantoadmitthatshehadbeenprettycompletelywrong,andtotakeupanewsetofopinionsandofhopes. Thereisaquicknessofperceptioninsome,anicetyinthediscernmentofcharacter,anaturalpenetration,inshort,whichnoexperienceinotherscanequal,andLadyRussellhadbeenlessgiftedinthispartofunderstandingthanheryoungfriend.Butshewasaverygoodwoman,andifhersecondobjectwastobesensibleandwell-judging,herfirstwastoseeAnnehappy.ShelovedAnnebetterthanshelovedherownabilitiesandwhentheawkwardnessofthebeginningwasover,foundlittlehardshipinattachingherselfasamothertothemanwhowassecuringthehappinessofherotherchild. Ofallthefamily,Marywasprobablytheonemostimmediatelygratifiedbythecircumstance.Itwascreditabletohaveasistermarried,andshemightflatterherselfwithhavingbeengreatlyinstrumentaltotheconnexion,bykeepingAnnewithherintheautumnandasherownsistermustbebetterthanherhusband’ssisters,itwasveryagreeablethatCaptainWentworthshouldbearichermanthaneitherCaptainBenwickorCharlesHayter.Shehadsomethingtosuffer,perhaps,whentheycameintocontactagain,inseeingAnnerestoredtotherightsofseniority,andthemistressofaveryprettylandaulettebutshehadafuturetolookforwardto,ofpowerfulconsolation.AnnehadnoUppercrossHallbeforeher,nolandedestate,noheadshipofafamilyandiftheycouldbutkeepCaptainWentworthfrombeingmadeabaronet,shewouldnotchangesituationswithAnne. Itwouldbewellfortheeldestsist