iousnoisesoftheroom,thealmostceaselessslamofthedoor,andceaselessbuzzofpersonswalkingthrough,haddistinguishedeveryword,wasstruck,gratified,confused,andbeginningtobreatheveryquick,andfeelanhundredthingsinamoment.Itwasimpossibleforhertoenteronsuchasubjectandyet,afterapause,feelingthenecessityofspeaking,andhavingnotthesmallestwishforatotalchange,sheonlydeviatedsofarastosay—
“YouwereagoodwhileatLyme,Ithink?”
“Aboutafortnight.IcouldnotleaveittillLouisa’sdoingwellwasquiteascertained.Ihadbeentoodeeplyconcernedinthemischieftobesoonatpeace.Ithadbeenmydoing,solelymine.ShewouldnothavebeenobstinateifIhadnotbeenweak.ThecountryroundLymeisveryfine.IwalkedandrodeagreatdealandthemoreIsaw,themoreIfoundtoadmire.”
“IshouldverymuchliketoseeLymeagain,”saidAnne.
“Indeed!IshouldnothavesupposedthatyoucouldhavefoundanythinginLymetoinspiresuchafeeling.Thehorroranddistressyouwereinvolvedin,thestretchofmind,thewearofspirits!IshouldhavethoughtyourlastimpressionsofLymemusthavebeenstrongdisgust.”
“Thelasthourswerecertainlyverypainful,”repliedAnne“butwhenpainisover,theremembranceofitoftenbecomesapleasure.Onedoesnotloveaplacethelessforhavingsufferedinit,unlessithasbeenallsuffering,nothingbutsuffering,whichwasbynomeansthecaseatLyme.Wewereonlyinanxietyanddistressduringthelasttwohours,andpreviouslytherehadbeenagreatdealofenjoyment.Somuchnoveltyandbeauty!Ihavetravelledsolittle,thateveryfreshplacewouldbeinterestingtomebutthereisrealbeautyatLymeandinshort”(withafaintblushatsomerecollections),“altogethermyimpressionsoftheplaceareveryagreeable.”
Assheceased,theentrancedooropenedagain,andtheverypartyappearedforwhomtheywerewaiting.“LadyDalrymple,LadyDalrymple,”wastherejoicingsoundandwithalltheeagernesscompatiblewithanxiouselegance,SirWalterandhistwoladiessteppedforwardtomeether.LadyDalrymple