illing,ready,happytoremain.“Itwaswhatshehadbeenthinkingof,andwishingtobeallowedtodo.AbedonthefloorinLouisa’sroomwouldbesufficientforher,ifMrsHarvillewouldbutthinkso.”
Onethingmore,andallseemedarranged.ThoughitwasratherdesirablethatMrandMrsMusgroveshouldbepreviouslyalarmedbysomeshareofdelayyetthetimerequiredbytheUppercrosshorsestotakethemback,wouldbeadreadfulextensionofsuspenseandCaptainWentworthproposed,andCharlesMusgroveagreed,thatitwouldbemuchbetterforhimtotakeachaisefromtheinn,andleaveMrMusgrove’scarriageandhorsestobesenthomethenextmorningearly,whentherewouldbethefartheradvantageofsendinganaccountofLouisa’snight.
CaptainWentworthnowhurriedofftogeteverythingreadyonhispart,andtobesoonfollowedbythetwoladies.WhentheplanwasmadeknowntoMary,however,therewasanendofallpeaceinit.Shewassowretchedandsovehement,complainedsomuchofinjusticeinbeingexpectedtogoawayinsteadofAnneAnne,whowasnothingtoLouisa,whileshewashersister,andhadthebestrighttostayinHenrietta’sstead!WhywasnotshetobeasusefulasAnne?AndtogohomewithoutCharles,too,withoutherhusband!No,itwastoounkind.Andinshort,shesaidmorethanherhusbandcouldlongwithstand,andasnoneoftheotherscouldopposewhenhegaveway,therewasnohelpforitthechangeofMaryforAnnewasinevitable.
Annehadneversubmittedmorereluctantlytothejealousandill-judgingclaimsofMarybutsoitmustbe,andtheysetoffforthetown,Charlestakingcareofhissister,andCaptainBenwickattendingtoher.Shegaveamoment’srecollection,astheyhurriedalong,tothelittlecircumstanceswhichthesamespotshadwitnessedearlierinthemorning.ThereshehadlistenedtoHenrietta’sschemesforDrShirley’sleavingUppercrossfartheron,shehadfirstseenMrElliotamomentseemedallthatcouldnowbegiventoanyonebutLouisa,orthosewhowerewraptupinherwelfare.
CaptainBenwickwasmostconsideratelyattentivetoherand,unitedastheyallseemedbythedistressoftheday,shefeltanincreasingdegreeofgood-willtowardshim,andapleasureeveninthinkingthatitmight,perhaps,betheoccasionofcontinuingtheiracquaintance.
CaptainWentworthwasonthewatchforthem,andachaiseandfourinwaiting,stationedfortheirconvenienceinthelowestpartofthestreetbuthisevidentsurpriseandvexationatthesubstitutionofonesisterfortheother,thechangeinhiscountenance,theastonishment,theexpressionsbegunandsuppressed,withwhichCharleswaslistenedto,madebutamortifyingreceptionofAnneormustatleastconvinceherthatshewasvaluedonlyasshecouldbeusefultoLouisa.
Sheendeavouredtobecomposed,andtobejust.WithoutemulatingthefeelingsofanEmmatowardsherHenry,shewouldhaveattendedonLouisawithazealabovethecommonclaimsofregard,forhissakeandshehopedh