CaptainWentworthwascometoKellynchastoahome,tostayaslongasheliked,beingasthoroughlytheobjectoftheAdmiral’sfraternalkindnessasofhiswife’s.Hehadintended,onfirstarriving,toproceedverysoonintoShropshire,andvisitthebrothersettledinthatcountry,buttheattractionsofUppercrossinducedhimtoputthisoff.Therewassomuchoffriendliness,andofflattery,andofeverythingmostbewitchinginhisreceptiontheretheoldweresohospitable,theyoungsoagreeable,thathecouldnotbutresolvetoremainwherehewas,andtakeallthecharmsandperfectionsofEdward’swifeuponcreditalittlelonger.
ItwassoonUppercrosswithhimalmosteveryday.TheMusgrovescouldhardlybemorereadytoinvitethanhetocome,particularlyinthemorning,whenhehadnocompanionathome,fortheAdmiralandMrsCroftweregenerallyoutofdoorstogether,interestingthemselvesintheirnewpossessions,theirgrass,andtheirsheep,anddawdlingaboutinawaynotendurabletoathirdperson,ordrivingoutinagig,latelyaddedtotheirestablishment.
HithertotherehadbeenbutoneopinionofCaptainWentworthamongtheMusgrovesandtheirdependencies.Itwasunvarying,warmadmirationeverywherebutthisintimatefootingwasnotmorethanestablished,whenacertainCharlesHayterreturnedamongthem,tobeagooddealdisturbedbyit,andtothinkCaptainWentworthverymuchintheway.
CharlesHayterwastheeldestofallthecousins,andaveryamiable,pleasingyoungman,betweenwhomandHenriettatherehadbeenaconsiderableappearanceofattachmentprevioustoCaptainWentworth’sintroduction.Hewasinordersandhavingacuracyintheneighbourhood,whereresidencewasnotrequired,livedathisfather’shouse,onlytwomilesfromUppercross.Ashortabsencefromhomehadlefthisfaironeunguardedbyhisattentionsatthiscriticalperiod,andwhenhecamebackhehadthepainoffindingveryalteredmanners,andofseeingCaptainWentworth.
MrsMusgroveandMrsHayterweresisters.Theyhadeachhadmoney,buttheirmarriageshadmadeamaterialdifferenceintheirdegreeofconsequence.MrHayterhadsomepropertyofhisown,butitwasinsignificantcomparedwithMrMusgrove’sand