me,justasitoughtIshallthereforebeabletomakemyletteraslongasIlike.TheAdmiraldoesnotseemveryill,andIsincerelyhopeBathwilldohimallthegoodhewants.Ishallbetrulygladtohavethembackagain.Ourneighbourhoodcannotsparesuchapleasantfamily.ButnowforLouisa.Ihavesomethingtocommunicatethatwillastonishyounotalittle.SheandtheHarvillescameonTuesdayverysafely,andintheeveningwewenttoaskherhowshedid,whenwewererathersurprisednottofindCaptainBenwickoftheparty,forhehadbeeninvitedaswellastheHarvillesandwhatdoyouthinkwasthereason?NeithermorenorlessthanhisbeinginlovewithLouisa,andnotchoosingtoventuretoUppercrosstillhehadhadananswerfromMrMusgroveforitwasallsettledbetweenhimandherbeforeshecameaway,andhehadwrittentoherfatherbyCaptainHarville.True,uponmyhonour!Arenotyouastonished?Ishallbesurprisedatleastifyoueverreceivedahintofit,forIneverdid.MrsMusgroveprotestssolemnlythatsheknewnothingofthematter.Weareallverywellpleased,however,forthoughitisnotequaltohermarryingCaptainWentworth,itisinfinitelybetterthanCharlesHayterandMrMusgrovehaswrittenhisconsent,andCaptainBenwickisexpectedto-day.MrsHarvillesaysherhusbandfeelsagooddealonhispoorsister’saccountbut,however,Louisaisagreatfavouritewithboth.Indeed,MrsHarvilleandIquiteagreethatweloveherthebetterforhavingnursedher.CharleswonderswhatCaptainWentworthwillsaybutifyouremember,IneverthoughthimattachedtoLouisaInevercouldseeanythingofit.Andthisistheend,yousee,ofCaptainBenwick’sbeingsupposedtobeanadmirerofyours.HowCharlescouldtakesuchathingintohisheadwasalwaysincomprehensibletome.Ihopehewillbemoreagreeablenow.CertainlynotagreatmatchforLouisaMusgrove,butamilliontimesbetterthanmarryingamongtheHayters.”
Maryneednothavefearedhersister’sbeinginanydegreepreparedforthenews.Shehadneverinherlifebeenmoreastonished.CaptainBenwickandLouisaMusgrove!Itwasalmosttoowonderfulforbelief,anditwaswiththegreatestef