rish,asasortoftake-leave.Iwastoldthattheywishedit.Butallthesethingstookupagreatdealoftime.”
“Oh!well!”andafteramoment’spause,“butyouhaveneveraskedmeonewordaboutourdinneratthePoolesyesterday.”
“Didyougothen?Ihavemadenoenquiries,becauseIconcludedyoumusthavebeenobligedtogiveuptheparty.”
“Ohyes!Iwent.Iwasverywellyesterdaynothingatallthematterwithmetillthismorning.ItwouldhavebeenstrangeifIhadnotgone.”
“Iamverygladyouwerewellenough,andIhopeyouhadapleasantparty.”
“Nothingremarkable.Onealwaysknowsbeforehandwhatthedinnerwillbe,andwhowillbethereanditissoveryuncomfortablenothavingacarriageofone’sown.MrandMrsMusgrovetookme,andweweresocrowded!Theyarebothsoverylarge,andtakeupsomuchroomandMrMusgrovealwayssitsforward.So,therewasI,crowdedintothebackseatwithHenriettaandLouisaandIthinkitverylikelythatmyillnessto-daymaybeowingtoit.”
AlittlefurtherperseveranceinpatienceandforcedcheerfulnessonAnne’ssideproducednearlyacureonMary’s.Shecouldsoonsituprightonthesofa,andbegantohopeshemightbeabletoleaveitbydinner-time.Then,forgettingtothinkofit,shewasattheotherendoftheroom,beautifyinganosegaythen,sheatehercoldmeatandthenshewaswellenoughtoproposealittlewalk.
“Whereshallwego?”saidshe,whentheywereready.“IsupposeyouwillnotliketocallattheGreatHousebeforetheyhavebeentoseeyou?”
“Ihavenotthesmallestobjectiononthataccount,”repliedAnne.“IshouldneverthinkofstandingonsuchceremonywithpeopleIknowsowellasMrsandtheMissMusgroves.”
“Oh!buttheyoughttocalluponyouassoonaspossible.Theyoughttofeelwhatisduetoyouasmysister.However,wemayaswellgoandsitwiththemalittlewhile,andwhenwehavethatover,wecanenjoyourwalk.”
Annehadalwaysthoughtsuchastyleofintercoursehighlyimprudentbutshehadceasedtoendeavourtocheckit,frombelievingthat,thoughtherewereoneachsidecontinualsubjectsofoffence,neitherfamilycouldnowdowithoutit.TotheGreatHouseaccordinglytheywent,tositthefullhalfhourintheold-fash