lmascameandnowAnne’sheartmustbeinKellynchagain.Abelovedhomemadeovertoothersallthepreciousroomsandfurniture,groves,andprospects,beginningtoownothereyesandotherlimbs!Shecouldnotthinkofmuchelseonthe29thofSeptemberandshehadthissympathetictouchintheeveningfromMary,who,onhavingoccasiontonotedownthedayofthemonth,exclaimed,“Dearme,isnotthisthedaytheCroftsweretocometoKellynch?IamgladIdidnotthinkofitbefore.Howlowitmakesme!”
TheCroftstookpossessionwithtruenavalalertness,andweretobevisited.Marydeploredthenecessityforherself.“Nobodyknewhowmuchsheshouldsuffer.Sheshouldputitoffaslongasshecould”butwasnoteasytillshehadtalkedCharlesintodrivingheroveronanearlyday,andwasinaveryanimated,comfortablestateofimaginaryagitation,whenshecameback.Annehadverysincerelyrejoicedintherebeingnomeansofhergoing.Shewished,howevertoseetheCrofts,andwasgladtobewithinwhenthevisitwasreturned.Theycame:themasterofthehousewasnotathome,butthetwosistersweretogetherandasitchancedthatMrsCroftfelltotheshareofAnne,whiletheAdmiralsatbyMary,andmadehimselfveryagreeablebyhisgood-humourednoticeofherlittleboys,shewaswellabletowatchforalikeness,andifitfailedherinthefeatures,tocatchitinthevoice,orintheturnofsentimentandexpression.
MrsCroft,thoughneithertallnorfat,hadasquareness,uprightness,andvigourofform,whichgaveimportancetoherperson.Shehadbrightdarkeyes,goodteeth,andaltogetheranagreeablefacethoughherreddenedandweather-beatencomplexion,theconsequenceofherhavingbeenalmostasmuchatseaasherhusband,madeherseemtohavelivedsomeyearslongerintheworldthanherrealeight-and-thirty.Hermannerswereopen,easy,anddecided,likeonewhohadnodistrustofherself,andnodoubtsofwhattodowithoutanyapproachtocoarseness,however,oranywantofgoodhumour.Annegavehercredit,indeed,forfeelingsofgreatconsiderationtowardsherself,inallthatrelatedtoKellynch,anditpleasedher:especially,asshehadsatisfiedherselfintheveryfirsthalfminute,intheinstantevenofintroduction,thattherewasnotthesmallestsymptomofa