manceasshegrewolder:thenaturalsequelofanunnaturalbeginning.
Withallthesecircumstances,recollectionsandfeelings,shecouldnothearthatCaptainWentworth’ssisterwaslikelytoliveatKellynchwithoutarevivalofformerpainandmanyastroll,andmanyasigh,werenecessarytodispeltheagitationoftheidea.Sheoftentoldherselfitwasfolly,beforeshecouldhardenhernervessufficientlytofeelthecontinualdiscussionoftheCroftsandtheirbusinessnoevil.Shewasassisted,however,bythatperfectindifferenceandapparentunconsciousness,amongtheonlythreeofherownfriendsinthesecretofthepast,whichseemedalmosttodenyanyrecollectionofit.ShecoulddojusticetothesuperiorityofLadyRussell’smotivesinthis,overthoseofherfatherandElizabethshecouldhonourallthebetterfeelingsofhercalmnessbutthegeneralairofoblivionamongthemwashighlyimportantfromwhateveritsprungandintheeventofAdmiralCroft’sreallytakingKellynchHall,sherejoicedanewovertheconvictionwhichhadalwaysbeenmostgratefultoher,ofthepastbeingknowntothosethreeonlyamongherconnexions,bywhomnosyllable,shebelieved,wouldeverbewhispered,andinthetrustthatamonghis,thebrotheronlywithwhomhehadbeenresiding,hadreceivedanyinformationoftheirshort-livedengagement.Thatbrotherhadbeenlongremovedfromthecountryandbeingasensibleman,and,moreover,asinglemanatthetime,shehadafonddependenceonnohumancreature’shavingheardofitfromhim.
Thesister,MrsCroft,hadthenbeenoutofEngland,accompanyingherhusbandonaforeignstation,andherownsister,Mary,hadbeenatschoolwhileitalloccurredandneveradmittedbytheprideofsome,andthedelicacyofothers,tothesmallestknowledgeofitafterwards.
Withthesesupports,shehopedthattheacquaintancebetweenherselfandtheCrofts,which,withLadyRussell,stillresidentinKellynch,andMaryfixedonlythreemilesoff,mustbeanticipated,neednotinvolveanyparticularawkwardness.