odisinterestedlettersalltheresthadbeenmereapplicationsformoney.
Ineachletterhehadspokenwellofhiscaptainbutyet,solittleweretheyinthehabitofattendingtosuchmatters,sounobservantandincuriousweretheyastothenamesofmenorships,thatithadmadescarcelyanyimpressionatthetimeandthatMrsMusgroveshouldhavebeensuddenlystruck,thisveryday,witharecollectionofthenameofWentworth,asconnectedwithherson,seemedoneofthoseextraordinaryburstsofmindwhichdosometimesoccur.
Shehadgonetoherletters,andfounditallasshesupposedandthere-perusaloftheseletters,aftersolonganinterval,herpoorsongoneforever,andallthestrengthofhisfaultsforgotten,hadaffectedherspiritsexceedingly,andthrownherintogreatergriefforhimthanshehadknownonfirsthearingofhisdeath.MrMusgrovewas,inalesserdegree,affectedlikewiseandwhentheyreachedthecottage,theywereevidentlyinwant,first,ofbeinglistenedtoanewonthissubject,andafterwards,ofallthereliefwhichcheerfulcompanionscouldgivethem.
TohearthemtalkingsomuchofCaptainWentworth,repeatinghisnamesooften,puzzlingoverpastyears,andatlastascertainingthatitmight,thatitprobablywould,turnouttobetheverysameCaptainWentworthwhomtheyrecollectedmeeting,onceortwice,aftertheircomingbackfromClifton—averyfineyoungman—buttheycouldnotsaywhetheritwassevenoreightyearsago,wasanewsortoftrialtoAnne’snerves.Shefound,however,thatitwasonetowhichshemustinureherself.Sinceheactuallywasexpectedinthecountry,shemustteachherselftobeinsensibleonsuchpoints.Andnotonlydiditappearthathewasexpected,andspeedily,buttheMusgroves,intheirwarmgratitudeforthekindnesshehadshewnpoorDick,andveryhighrespectforhischaracter,stampedasitwasbypoorDick’shavingbeensixmonthsunderhiscare,andmentioninghiminstrong,thoughnotperfectlywell-speltpraise,as“afinedashingfelow,onlytwoperticularabouttheschoolmaster,”werebentonintroducingthemselves,andseekinghisacquaintance,assoonastheycouldhearofhisarrival.
Theresolutionofdoingsohelpedtoformthecomfortoftheirevening.