ulsiveandunsisterlyasElizabeth,norsoinaccessibletoallinfluenceofhersneitherwasthereanythingamongtheothercomponentpartsofthecottageinimicaltocomfort.Shewasalwaysonfriendlytermswithherbrother-in-lawandinthechildren,wholovedhernearlyaswell,andrespectedheragreatdealmorethantheirmother,shehadanobjectofinterest,amusement,andwholesomeexertion.
CharlesMusgrovewascivilandagreeableinsenseandtemperhewasundoubtedlysuperiortohiswife,butnotofpowers,orconversation,orgrace,tomakethepast,astheywereconnectedtogether,atalladangerouscontemplationthough,atthesametime,Annecouldbelieve,withLadyRussell,thatamoreequalmatchmighthavegreatlyimprovedhimandthatawomanofrealunderstandingmighthavegivenmoreconsequencetohischaracter,andmoreusefulness,rationality,andelegancetohishabitsandpursuits.Asitwas,hedidnothingwithmuchzeal,butsportandhistimewasotherwisetrifledaway,withoutbenefitfrombooksoranythingelse.Hehadverygoodspirits,whichneverseemedmuchaffectedbyhiswife’soccasionallowness,borewithherunreasonablenesssometimestoAnne’sadmiration,anduponthewhole,thoughtherewasveryoftenalittledisagreement(inwhichshehadsometimesmoresharethanshewished,beingappealedtobybothparties),theymightpassforahappycouple.Theywerealwaysperfectlyagreedinthewantofmoremoney,andastronginclinationforahandsomepresentfromhisfatherbuthere,asonmosttopics,hehadthesuperiority,forwhileMarythoughtitagreatshamethatsuchapresentwasnotmade,healwayscontendedforhisfather’shavingmanyotherusesforhismoney,andarighttospenditasheliked.
Astothemanagementoftheirchildren,histheorywasmuchbetterthanhiswife’s,andhispracticenotsobad.“Icouldmanagethemverywell,ifitwerenotforMary’sinterference,”waswhatAnneoftenheardhimsay,andhadagooddealoffaithinbutwhenlisteninginturntoMary’sreproachof“CharlesspoilsthechildrensothatIcannotgetthemintoanyorder,”sheneverhadthesmallesttemptationtosay,“Verytrue.”
Oneoftheleastagreeablecircumstancesofherresidencetherewasherbeingtreatedwithtoomuchconfidenceb