asconsigned,for,thoughpartiallyrevived,shewasquitehelplessandinthismanner,Annewalkingbyherside,andCharlesattendingtohiswife,theysetforward,treadingbackwithfeelingsunutterable,theground,whichsolately,soverylately,andsolightofheart,theyhadpassedalong.
TheywerenotofftheCobb,beforetheHarvillesmetthem.CaptainBenwickhadbeenseenflyingbytheirhouse,withacountenancewhichshowedsomethingtobewrongandtheyhadsetoffimmediately,informedanddirectedastheypassed,towardsthespot.ShockedasCaptainHarvillewas,hebroughtsensesandnervesthatcouldbeinstantlyusefulandalookbetweenhimandhiswifedecidedwhatwastobedone.Shemustbetakentotheirhouseallmustgototheirhouseandawaitthesurgeon’sarrivalthere.Theywouldnotlistentoscruples:hewasobeyedtheywereallbeneathhisroofandwhileLouisa,underMrsHarville’sdirection,wasconveyedupstairs,andgivenpossessionofherownbed,assistance,cordials,restorativesweresuppliedbyherhusbandtoallwhoneededthem.
Louisahadonceopenedhereyes,butsoonclosedthemagain,withoutapparentconsciousness.Thishadbeenaproofoflife,however,ofservicetohersisterandHenrietta,thoughperfectlyincapableofbeinginthesameroomwithLouisa,waskept,bytheagitationofhopeandfear,fromareturnofherowninsensibility.Mary,too,wasgrowingcalmer.
Thesurgeonwaswiththemalmostbeforeithadseemedpossible.Theyweresickwithhorror,whileheexaminedbuthewasnothopeless.Theheadhadreceivedaseverecontusion,buthehadseengreaterinjuriesrecoveredfrom:hewasbynomeanshopelesshespokecheerfully.
Thathedidnotregarditasadesperatecase,thathedidnotsayafewhoursmustendit,wasatfirstfelt,beyondthehopeofmostandtheecstasyofsuchareprieve,therejoicing,deepandsilent,afterafewferventejaculationsofgratitudetoHeavenhadbeenoffered,maybeconceived.
Thetone,thelook,withwhich“ThankGod!”wasutteredbyCaptainWentworth,Annewassurecouldneverbeforgottenbyhernorthesightofhimafterwards,ashesatnearatable,leaningoveritwithfoldedarmsandfaceconcealed,asifoverpoweredbythevariousfeelingsofhissoul,andtryingbyprayerandreflectiontocalmthem.
Louisa’slimbshadescaped.Therewasnoinjurybuttothehead.
Itnowbecamenecessaryforthepartytoconsiderwhatwasbesttobedone,astotheirgeneralsituation.Theywerenowabletospeaktoeachotherandconsult.ThatLouisamustremainwhereshewas,howeverdistressingtoherfriendstobeinvolvingtheHarvillesinsuchtrouble,didnotadmitadoubt.Herremovalwasimpossible.TheHarvillessilencedallscruplesand,asmuchastheycould,allgratitude.Theyhadlookedforwardandarrangedeverythingbeforetheothersbegantoreflect.CaptainBenwickmustgiveuphisroomtothem,andgetanotherbedelsewhereandthewholewassettled.Theywereonlyconce