creaturecallonmesincethesecondweekinJanuary,exceptCharlesHayter,whohadbeencallingmuchoftenerthanwaswelcome.Betweenourselves,IthinkitagreatpityHenriettadidnotremainatLymeaslongasLouisaitwouldhavekeptheralittleoutofhisway.Thecarriageisgoneto-day,tobringLouisaandtheHarvillesto-morrow.Wearenotaskedtodinewiththem,however,tillthedayafter,MrsMusgroveissoafraidofherbeingfatiguedbythejourney,whichisnotverylikely,consideringthecarethatwillbetakenofheranditwouldbemuchmoreconvenienttometodinethereto-morrow.IamgladyoufindMrElliotsoagreeable,andwishIcouldbeacquaintedwithhimtoobutIhavemyusualluck:Iamalwaysoutofthewaywhenanythingdesirableisgoingonalwaysthelastofmyfamilytobenoticed.WhatanimmensetimeMrsClayhasbeenstayingwithElizabeth!Doesshenevermeantogoaway?Butperhapsifsheweretoleavetheroomvacant,wemightnotbeinvited.Letmeknowwhatyouthinkofthis.Idonotexpectmychildrentobeasked,youknow.IcanleavethemattheGreatHouseverywell,foramonthorsixweeks.IhavethismomentheardthattheCroftsaregoingtoBathalmostimmediatelytheythinktheAdmiralgouty.Charleshearditquitebychancetheyhavenothadthecivilitytogivemeanynotice,orofofferingtotakeanything.Idonotthinktheyimproveatallasneighbours.Weseenothingofthem,andthisisreallyaninstanceofgrossinattention.Charlesjoinsmeinlove,andeverythingproper.Yoursaffectionately,
“MARYM——.”
“IamsorrytosaythatIamveryfarfromwellandJemimahasjusttoldmethatthebutchersaysthereisabadsore-throatverymuchabout.IdaresayIshallcatchitandmysore-throats,youknow,arealwaysworsethananybody’s.”
Soendedthefirstpart,whichhadbeenafterwardsputintoanenvelope,containingnearlyasmuchmore.
“Ikeptmyletteropen,thatImightsendyouwordhowLouisaboreherjourney,andnowIamextremelygladIdid,havingagreatdealtoadd.Inthefirstplace,IhadanotefromMrsCroftyesterday,offeringtoconveyanythingtoyouaverykind,friendlynoteindeed,addressedto