acticablesosoon.
Theywereindebted,thenextday,toCharlesHayter,foralltheminuteknowledgeofLouisa,whichitwassoessentialtoobtaineverytwenty-fourhours.HemadeithisbusinesstogotoLyme,andhisaccountwasstillencouraging.Theintervalsofsenseandconsciousnesswerebelievedtobestronger.EveryreportagreedinCaptainWentworth’sappearingfixedinLyme.
Annewastoleavethemonthemorrow,aneventwhichtheyalldreaded.“Whatshouldtheydowithouther?Theywerewretchedcomfortersforoneanother.”Andsomuchwassaidinthisway,thatAnnethoughtshecouldnotdobetterthanimpartamongthemthegeneralinclinationtowhichshewasprivy,andpersuadedthemalltogotoLymeatonce.Shehadlittledifficultyitwassoondeterminedthattheywouldgogoto-morrow,fixthemselvesattheinn,orgetintolodgings,asitsuited,andthereremaintilldearLouisacouldbemoved.TheymustbetakingoffsometroublefromthegoodpeopleshewaswiththeymightatleastrelieveMrsHarvillefromthecareofherownchildrenandinshort,theyweresohappyinthedecision,thatAnnewasdelightedwithwhatshehaddone,andfeltthatshecouldnotspendherlastmorningatUppercrossbetterthaninassistingtheirpreparations,andsendingthemoffatanearlyhour,thoughherbeinglefttothesolitaryrangeofthehousewastheconsequence.
Shewasthelast,exceptingthelittleboysatthecottage,shewastheverylast,theonlyremainingoneofallthathadfilledandanimatedbothhouses,ofallthathadgivenUppercrossitscheerfulcharacter.Afewdayshadmadeachangeindeed!
IfLouisarecovered,itwouldallbewellagain.Morethanformerhappinesswouldberestored.Therecouldnotbeadoubt,tohermindtherewasnone,ofwhatwouldfollowherrecovery.Afewmonthshence,andtheroomnowsodeserted,occupiedbutbyhersilent,pensiveself,mightbefilledagainwithallthatwashappyandgay,allthatwasglowingandbrightinprosperouslove,allthatwasmostunlikeAnneElliot!
Anhour’scompleteleisureforsuchreflectionsasthese,onadarkNovemberday,asmallthickra