SirWalterhadtakenaverygoodhouseinCamdenPlace,aloftydignifiedsituation,suchasbecomesamanofconsequenceandbothheandElizabethweresettledthere,muchtotheirsatisfaction.
Anneentereditwithasinkingheart,anticipatinganimprisonmentofmanymonths,andanxiouslysayingtoherself,“Oh!whenshallIleaveyouagain?”Adegreeofunexpectedcordiality,however,inthewelcomeshereceived,didhergood.Herfatherandsisterweregladtoseeher,forthesakeofshewingherthehouseandfurniture,andmetherwithkindness.Hermakingafourth,whentheysatdowntodinner,wasnoticedasanadvantage.
MrsClaywasverypleasant,andverysmiling,buthercourtesiesandsmilesweremoreamatterofcourse.Annehadalwaysfeltthatshewouldpretendwhatwasproperonherarrival,butthecomplaisanceoftheotherswasunlookedfor.Theywereevidentlyinexcellentspirits,andshewassoontolistentothecauses.Theyhadnoinclinationtolistentoher.Afterlayingoutforsomecomplimentsofbeingdeeplyregrettedintheiroldneighbourhood,whichAnnecouldnotpay,theyhadonlyafewfaintenquiriestomake,beforethetalkmustbealltheirown.Uppercrossexcitednointerest,Kellynchverylittle:itwasallBath.
TheyhadthepleasureofassuringherthatBathmorethanansweredtheirexpectationsineveryrespect.TheirhousewasundoubtedlythebestinCamdenPlacetheirdrawing-roomshadmanydecidedadvantagesoveralltheotherswhichtheyhadeitherseenorheardof,andthesuperioritywasnotlessinthestyleofthefitting-up,orthetasteofthefurniture.Theiracquaintancewasexceedinglysoughtafter.Everybodywaswantingtovisitthem.Theyhaddrawnbackfrommanyintroductions,andstillwereperpetuallyhavingcardsleftbypeopleofwhomtheyknewnothing.
Herewerefundsofenjoyment.CouldAnnewonderthatherfatherandsisterwerehappy?Shemightnotwonder,butshemustsighthatherfathershouldfeelnodegradationinhischange,shouldseenothingtoregretinthedutiesanddignityoftheresidentlandholder,shouldfindsomuchtobevainofinthelittlenessesofatownandshemustsigh,andsmile,andwonderto