rShepherdthinksitthegreatestimprovementthehouseeverhad.Indeed,Imustdoourselvesthejusticetosay,thatthefewalterationswehavemadehavebeenallverymuchforthebetter.Mywifeshouldhavethecreditofthem,however.Ihavedoneverylittlebesidessendingawaysomeofthelargelooking-glassesfrommydressing-room,whichwasyourfather’s.Averygoodman,andverymuchthegentlemanIamsure:butIshouldthink,MissElliot,”(lookingwithseriousreflection),“Ishouldthinkhemustberatheradressymanforhistimeoflife.Suchanumberoflooking-glasses!ohLord!therewasnogettingawayfromone’sself.SoIgotSophytolendmeahand,andwesoonshiftedtheirquartersandnowIamquitesnug,withmylittleshavingglassinonecorner,andanothergreatthingthatInevergonear.”
Anne,amusedinspiteofherself,wasratherdistressedforananswer,andtheAdmiral,fearinghemightnothavebeencivilenough,tookupthesubjectagain,tosay—
“Thenexttimeyouwritetoyourgoodfather,MissElliot,praygivehimmycomplimentsandMrsCroft’s,andsaythatwearesettledherequitetoourliking,andhavenofaultatalltofindwiththeplace.Thebreakfast-roomchimneysmokesalittle,Igrantyou,butitisonlywhenthewindisduenorthandblowshard,whichmaynothappenthreetimesawinter.Andtakeitaltogether,nowthatwehavebeenintomostofthehouseshereaboutsandcanjudge,thereisnotonethatwelikebetterthanthis.Praysayso,withmycompliments.Hewillbegladtohearit.”
LadyRussellandMrsCroftwereverywellpleasedwitheachother:buttheacquaintancewhichthisvisitbeganwasfatednottoproceedfaratpresentforwhenitwasreturned,theCroftsannouncedthemselvestobegoingawayforafewweeks,tovisittheirconnexionsinthenorthofthecounty,andprobablymightnotbeathomeagainbeforeLadyRussellwouldberemovingtoBath.
SoendedalldangertoAnneofmeetingCaptainWentworthatKellynchHall,orofseeinghimincompanywithherfriend.Everythingwassafeenough,andshesmiledoverthemanyanxiousfeelingsshehadwastedonthesubject.