stakeninthenatureofherfeelings,thealterationcouldnotbeunderstoodtoosoon.
CharlesHayterhadmetwithmuchtodisquietandmortifyhiminhiscousin’sbehaviour.Shehadtoooldaregardforhimtobesowhollyestrangedasmightintwomeetingsextinguisheverypasthope,andleavehimnothingtodobuttokeepawayfromUppercross:buttherewassuchachangeasbecameveryalarming,whensuchamanasCaptainWentworthwastoberegardedastheprobablecause.HehadbeenabsentonlytwoSundays,andwhentheyparted,hadleftherinterested,eventotheheightofhiswishes,inhisprospectofsoonquittinghispresentcuracy,andobtainingthatofUppercrossinstead.Ithadthenseemedtheobjectnearestherheart,thatDrShirley,therector,whoformorethanfortyyearshadbeenzealouslydischargingallthedutiesofhisoffice,butwasnowgrowingtooinfirmformanyofthem,shouldbequitefixedonengagingacurateshouldmakehiscuracyquiteasgoodashecouldafford,andshouldgiveCharlesHayterthepromiseofit.TheadvantageofhishavingtocomeonlytoUppercross,insteadofgoingsixmilesanotherwayofhishaving,ineveryrespect,abettercuracyofhisbelongingtotheirdearDrShirley,andofdear,goodDrShirley’sbeingrelievedfromthedutywhichhecouldnolongergetthroughwithoutmostinjuriousfatigue,hadbeenagreatdeal,eventoLouisa,buthadbeenalmosteverythingtoHenrietta.Whenhecameback,alas!thezealofthebusinesswasgoneby.LouisacouldnotlistenatalltohisaccountofaconversationwhichhehadjustheldwithDrShirley:shewasatawindow,lookingoutforCaptainWentworthandevenHenriettahadatbestonlyadividedattentiontogive,andseemedtohaveforgottenalltheformerdoubtandsolicitudeofthenegotiation.
“Well,Iamverygladindeed:butIalwaysthoughtyouwouldhaveitIalwaysthoughtyousure.Itdidnotappeartomethat—inshort,youknow,DrShirleymusthaveacurate,andyouhadsecuredhispromise.Ishecoming,Louisa?”
Onemorning,verysoonafterthedinnerattheMusgroves,atwhichAnnehadnotbeenpresent,CaptainWentworthwalkedintothedrawing-roomattheCottage,wherewereonlyherselfandthelittleinvalidCharles,whowaslyingonthe