AnnehadnotwantedthisvisittoUppercross,tolearnthataremovalfromonesetofpeopletoanother,thoughatadistanceofonlythreemiles,willoftenincludeatotalchangeofconversation,opinion,andidea.Shehadneverbeenstayingtherebefore,withoutbeingstruckbyit,orwithoutwishingthatotherElliotscouldhaveheradvantageinseeinghowunknown,orunconsideredthere,weretheaffairswhichatKellynchHallweretreatedasofsuchgeneralpublicityandpervadinginterestyet,withallthisexperience,shebelievedshemustnowsubmittofeelthatanotherlesson,intheartofknowingourownnothingnessbeyondourowncircle,wasbecomenecessaryforherforcertainly,comingasshedid,withaheartfullofthesubjectwhichhadbeencompletelyoccupyingbothhousesinKellynchformanyweeks,shehadexpectedrathermorecuriosityandsympathythanshefoundintheseparatebutverysimilarremarkofMrandMrsMusgrove:“So,MissAnne,SirWalterandyoursisteraregoneandwhatpartofBathdoyouthinktheywillsettlein?”andthis,withoutmuchwaitingforananswerorintheyoungladies’additionof,“IhopeweshallbeinBathinthewinterbutremember,papa,ifwedogo,wemustbeinagoodsituation:noneofyourQueenSquaresforus!”orintheanxioussupplementfromMary,of—“Uponmyword,Ishallbeprettywelloff,whenyouareallgoneawaytobehappyatBath!”
Shecouldonlyresolvetoavoidsuchself-delusioninfuture,andthinkwithheightenedgratitudeoftheextraordinaryblessingofhavingonesuchtrulysympathisingfriendasLadyRussell.
TheMrMusgroveshadtheirowngametoguard,andtodestroy,theirownhorses,dogs,andnewspaperstoengagethem,andthefemaleswerefullyoccupiedinalltheothercommonsubjectsofhousekeeping,neighbours,dress,dancing,andmusic.Sheacknowledgedittobeveryfitting,thateverylittlesocialcommonwealthshoulddictateitsownmattersofdiscourseandhoped,erelong,tobecomeanotunworthymemberoftheoneshewasnowtransplantedinto.WiththeprospectofspendingatleasttwomonthsatUppercross,itwashighlyincumbentonhertoclotheherimagination,hermemory,andallherideasinasmuchofUppercrossaspossible.
Shehadnodreadofthesetwomonths.Marywasnotsorep