foralltheworthandallthepromptwelcomewhichmetherinhisbrothersandsisters,wasasourceofaslivelypainashermindcouldwellbesensibleofundercircumstancesofotherwisestrongfelicity.Shehadbuttwofriendsintheworldtoaddtohislist,LadyRussellandMrsSmith.Tothose,however,hewasverywelldisposedtoattachhimself.LadyRussell,inspiteofallherformertransgressions,hecouldnowvaluefromhisheart.Whilehewasnotobligedtosaythathebelievedhertohavebeenrightinoriginallydividingthem,hewasreadytosayalmosteverythingelseinherfavour,andasforMrsSmith,shehadclaimsofvariouskindstorecommendherquicklyandpermanently.
HerrecentgoodofficesbyAnnehadbeenenoughinthemselves,andtheirmarriage,insteadofdeprivingherofonefriend,securedhertwo.ShewastheirearliestvisitorintheirsettledlifeandCaptainWentworth,byputtingherinthewayofrecoveringherhusband’spropertyintheWestIndies,bywritingforher,actingforher,andseeingherthroughallthepettydifficultiesofthecasewiththeactivityandexertionofafearlessmanandadeterminedfriend,fullyrequitedtheserviceswhichshehadrendered,orevermeanttorender,tohiswife.
MrsSmith’senjoymentswerenotspoiledbythisimprovementofincome,withsomeimprovementofhealth,andtheacquisitionofsuchfriendstobeoftenwith,forhercheerfulnessandmentalalacritydidnotfailherandwhiletheseprimesuppliesofgoodremained,shemighthavebiddefianceeventogreateraccessionsofworldlyprosperity.Shemighthavebeenabsolutelyrichandperfectlyhealthy,andyetbehappy.Herspringoffelicitywasintheglowofherspirits,asherfriendAnne’swasinthewarmthofherheart.Annewastendernessitself,andshehadthefullworthofitinCaptainWentworth’saffection.Hisprofessionwasallthatcouldevermakeherfriendswishthattendernessless,thedreadofafuturewarallthatcoulddimhersunshine.Shegloriedinbeingasailor’swife,butshemustpaythetaxofquickalarmforbelongingtothatprofessionwhichis,ifpossible,moredistinguishedinitsdomesticvirtuesthaninitsnationalimportance.
Finis