Averyfewdaysmore,andCaptainWentworthwasknowntobeatKellynch,andMrMusgrovehadcalledonhim,andcomebackwarminhispraise,andhewasengagedwiththeCroftstodineatUppercross,bytheendofanotherweek.IthadbeenagreatdisappointmenttoMrMusgrovetofindthatnoearlierdaycouldbefixed,soimpatientwashetoshewhisgratitude,byseeingCaptainWentworthunderhisownroof,andwelcominghimtoallthatwasstrongestandbestinhiscellars.Butaweekmustpassonlyaweek,inAnne’sreckoning,andthen,shesupposed,theymustmeetandsoonshebegantowishthatshecouldfeelsecureevenforaweek.
CaptainWentworthmadeaveryearlyreturntoMrMusgrove’scivility,andshewasallbutcallingthereinthesamehalfhour.SheandMarywereactuallysettingforwardfortheGreatHouse,where,assheafterwardslearnt,theymustinevitablyhavefoundhim,whentheywerestoppedbytheeldestboy’sbeingatthatmomentbroughthomeinconsequenceofabadfall.Thechild’ssituationputthevisitentirelyasidebutshecouldnothearofherescapewithindifference,eveninthemidstoftheseriousanxietywhichtheyafterwardsfeltonhisaccount.
Hiscollar-bonewasfoundtobedislocated,andsuchinjuryreceivedintheback,asrousedthemostalarmingideas.Itwasanafternoonofdistress,andAnnehadeverythingtodoatoncetheapothecarytosendfor,thefathertohavepursuedandinformed,themothertosupportandkeepfromhysterics,theservantstocontrol,theyoungestchildtobanish,andthepoorsufferingonetoattendandsoothebesidessending,assoonassherecollectedit,propernoticetotheotherhouse,whichbroughtheranaccessionratheroffrightened,enquiringcompanions,thanofveryusefulassistants.
Herbrother’sreturnwasthefirstcomforthecouldtakebestcareofhiswifeandthesecondblessingwasthearrivaloftheapothecary.Tillhecameandhadexaminedthechild,theirapprehensionsweretheworseforbeingvaguetheysuspectedgreatinjury,butknewnotwherebutnowthecollar-bonewassoonreplaced,andthoughMrRobinsonfeltandfelt,andrubbed,andlookedgrave,andspokelowwordsbothtothefatherandtheaunt,stilltheywerealltohopethebest,andt