Ithinkyouareverylikelytosufferthemostofthetwoyourfeelingsarelessreconciledtothechangethanmine.Byremainingintheneighbourhood,Iambecomeinuredtoit.”
ShecouldhavesaidmoreonthesubjectforshehadinfactsohighanopinionoftheCrofts,andconsideredherfathersoveryfortunateinhistenants,felttheparishtobesosureofagoodexample,andthepoorofthebestattentionandrelief,thathoweversorryandashamedforthenecessityoftheremoval,shecouldnotbutinconsciencefeelthattheyweregonewhodeservednottostay,andthatKellynchHallhadpassedintobetterhandsthanitsowners’.Theseconvictionsmustunquestionablyhavetheirownpain,andseverewasitskindbuttheyprecludedthatpainwhichLadyRussellwouldsufferinenteringthehouseagain,andreturningthroughthewell-knownapartments.
InsuchmomentsAnnehadnopowerofsayingtoherself,“Theseroomsoughttobelongonlytous.Oh,howfallenintheirdestination!Howunworthilyoccupied!Anancientfamilytobesodrivenaway!Strangersfillingtheirplace!”No,exceptwhenshethoughtofhermother,andrememberedwhereshehadbeenusedtositandpreside,shehadnosighofthatdescriptiontoheave.
MrsCroftalwaysmetherwithakindnesswhichgaveherthepleasureoffancyingherselfafavourite,andonthepresentoccasion,receivingherinthathouse,therewasparticularattention.
ThesadaccidentatLymewassoontheprevailingtopic,andoncomparingtheirlatestaccountsoftheinvalid,itappearedthateachladydatedherintelligencefromthesamehourofyestermornthatCaptainWentworthhadbeeninKellynchyesterday(thefirsttimesincetheaccident),hadbroughtAnnethelastnote,whichshehadnotbeenabletotracetheexactstepsofhadstaidafewhoursandthenreturnedagaintoLyme,andwithoutanypresentintentionofquittingitanymore.Hehadenquiredafterher,shefound,particularlyhadexpressedhishopeofMissElliot’snotbeingtheworseforherexertions,andhadspokenofthoseexertionsasgreat.Thiswashandsome,andgavehermorepleasurethanalmostanythin