sementsbutuponthemarriageoftheyoung’squire,ithadreceivedtheimprovementofafarm-houseelevatedintoacottage,forhisresidence,andUppercrossCottage,withitsveranda,Frenchwindows,andotherprettiness,wasquiteaslikelytocatchthetraveller’seyeasthemoreconsistentandconsiderableaspectandpremisesoftheGreatHouse,aboutaquarterofamilefartheron.
HereAnnehadoftenbeenstaying.SheknewthewaysofUppercrossaswellasthoseofKellynch.Thetwofamiliesweresocontinuallymeeting,somuchinthehabitofrunninginandoutofeachother’shouseatallhours,thatitwasratherasurprisetohertofindMaryalonebutbeingalone,herbeingunwellandoutofspiritswasalmostamatterofcourse.Thoughbetterendowedthantheeldersister,MaryhadnotAnne’sunderstandingnortemper.Whilewell,andhappy,andproperlyattendedto,shehadgreatgoodhumourandexcellentspiritsbutanyindispositionsunkhercompletely.ShehadnoresourcesforsolitudeandinheritingaconsiderableshareoftheElliotself-importance,wasverypronetoaddtoeveryotherdistressthatoffancyingherselfneglectedandill-used.Inperson,shewasinferiortobothsisters,andhad,eveninherbloom,onlyreachedthedignityofbeing“afinegirl.”Shewasnowlyingonthefadedsofaoftheprettylittledrawing-room,theonceelegantfurnitureofwhichhadbeengraduallygrowingshabby,undertheinfluenceoffoursummersandtwochildrenand,onAnne’sappearing,greetedherwith—
“So,youarecomeatlast!IbegantothinkIshouldneverseeyou.IamsoillIcanhardlyspeak.Ihavenotseenacreaturethewholemorning!”
“Iamsorrytofindyouunwell,”repliedAnne.“YousentmesuchagoodaccountofyourselfonThursday!”
“Yes,ImadethebestofitIalwaysdo:butIwasveryfarfromwellatthetimeandIdonotthinkIeverwassoillinmylifeasIhavebeenallthismorning:veryunfittobeleftalone,Iamsure.SupposeIweretobeseizedofasuddeninsomedreadfulway,andnotabletoringthebell!So,LadyRussellwouldnotgetout.Idonotthinkshehasbeeninthishousethreetimesthissummer.”
Annesaidwhatwasproper,andenquiredafterherhusband.“Oh!Charlesisoutshooting.Ihaveno