nyknowledgeorsuspiciononMrsCroft’sside,togiveabiasofanysort.Shewasquiteeasyonthathead,andconsequentlyfullofstrengthandcourage,tillforamomentelectrifiedbyMrsCroft’ssuddenlysaying,—
“Itwasyou,andnotyoursister,Ifind,thatmybrotherhadthepleasureofbeingacquaintedwith,whenhewasinthiscountry.”
Annehopedshehadoutlivedtheageofblushingbuttheageofemotionshecertainlyhadnot.
“Perhapsyoumaynothaveheardthatheismarried?”addedMrsCroft.
Shecouldnowanswerassheoughtandwashappytofeel,whenMrsCroft’snextwordsexplainedittobeMrWentworthofwhomshespoke,thatshehadsaidnothingwhichmightnotdoforeitherbrother.Sheimmediatelyfelthowreasonableitwas,thatMrsCroftshouldbethinkingandspeakingofEdward,andnotofFrederickandwithshameatherownforgetfulnessappliedherselftotheknowledgeoftheirformerneighbour’spresentstatewithproperinterest.
Therestwasalltranquillitytill,justastheyweremoving,sheheardtheAdmiralsaytoMary—
“WeareexpectingabrotherofMrsCroft’sheresoonIdaresayyouknowhimbyname.”
Hewascutshortbytheeagerattacksofthelittleboys,clingingtohimlikeanoldfriend,anddeclaringheshouldnotgoandbeingtoomuchengrossedbyproposalsofcarryingthemawayinhiscoatpockets,&c.,tohaveanothermomentforfinishingorrecollectingwhathehadbegun,Annewaslefttopersuadeherself,aswellasshecould,thatthesamebrothermuststillbeinquestion.Shecouldnot,however,reachsuchadegreeofcertainty,asnottobeanxioustohearwhetheranythinghadbeensaidonthesubjectattheotherhouse,wheretheCroftshadpreviouslybeencalling.
ThefolksoftheGreatHouseweretospendtheeveningofthisdayattheCottageanditbeingnowtoolateintheyearforsuchvisitstobemadeonfoot,thecoachwasbeginningtobelistenedfor,whentheyoungestMissMusgrovewalkedin.Thatshewascomingtoapologize,andthattheyshouldhavetospendtheeveningbythemselves,wasthefirstblackideaandMarywasquitereadytobeaffronted,whenLouisamadeallrightbysaying,thatsheonlycameonfoot,toleavemoreroomfortheharp,whichwasbringinginthecarriage.
“AndIwilltellyouourreason,”sh