sofa.
ThesurpriseoffindinghimselfalmostalonewithAnneElliot,deprivedhismannersoftheirusualcomposure:hestarted,andcouldonlysay,“IthoughttheMissMusgroveshadbeenhere:MrsMusgrovetoldmeIshouldfindthemhere,”beforehewalkedtothewindowtorecollecthimself,andfeelhowheoughttobehave.
“Theyareupstairswithmysister:theywillbedowninafewmoments,Idaresay,”hadbeenAnne’sreply,inalltheconfusionthatwasnaturalandifthechildhadnotcalledhertocomeanddosomethingforhim,shewouldhavebeenoutoftheroomthenextmoment,andreleasedCaptainWentworthaswellasherself.
Hecontinuedatthewindowandaftercalmlyandpolitelysaying,“Ihopethelittleboyisbetter,”wassilent.
Shewasobligedtokneeldownbythesofa,andremaintheretosatisfyherpatientandthustheycontinuedafewminutes,when,toherverygreatsatisfaction,sheheardsomeotherpersoncrossingthelittlevestibule.Shehoped,onturningherhead,toseethemasterofthehousebutitprovedtobeonemuchlesscalculatedformakingmatterseasy—CharlesHayter,probablynotatallbetterpleasedbythesightofCaptainWentworththanCaptainWentworthhadbeenbythesightofAnne.
Sheonlyattemptedtosay,“Howdoyoudo?Willyounotsitdown?Theotherswillbeherepresently.”
CaptainWentworth,however,camefromhiswindow,apparentlynotill-disposedforconversationbutCharlesHaytersoonputanendtohisattemptsbyseatinghimselfnearthetable,andtakingupthenewspaperandCaptainWentworthreturnedtohiswindow.
Anotherminutebroughtanotheraddition.Theyoungerboy,aremarkablestout,forwardchild,oftwoyearsold,havinggotthedooropenedforhimbysomeonewithout,madehisdeterminedappearanceamongthem,andwentstraighttothesofatoseewhatwasgoingon,andputinhisclaimtoanythinggoodthatmightbegivingaway.
Therebeingnothingtoeat,hecouldonlyhavesomeplayandashisauntwouldnotlethimteasehissickbrother,hebegantofastenhimselfuponher,assheknelt,insuchawaythat,busyasshewasaboutCharles,shecouldnotshakehimoff.Shespoketohim,ordered,entreated,andinsistedinvain.Onceshedidcontrivetopushhimaway,