whiletheMusgroveswereinthefirstclassofsocietyinthecountry,theyoungHayterswould,fromtheirparents’inferior,retired,andunpolishedwayofliving,andtheirowndefectiveeducation,havebeenhardlyinanyclassatall,butfortheirconnexionwithUppercross,thiseldestsonofcourseexcepted,whohadchosentobeascholarandagentleman,andwhowasverysuperiorincultivationandmannerstoalltherest.
Thetwofamilieshadalwaysbeenonexcellentterms,therebeingnoprideononeside,andnoenvyontheother,andonlysuchaconsciousnessofsuperiorityintheMissMusgroves,asmadethempleasedtoimprovetheircousins.Charles’sattentionstoHenriettahadbeenobservedbyherfatherandmotherwithoutanydisapprobation.“ItwouldnotbeagreatmatchforherbutifHenriettalikedhim,”—andHenriettadidseemtolikehim.
Henriettafullythoughtsoherself,beforeCaptainWentworthcamebutfromthattimeCousinCharleshadbeenverymuchforgotten.
WhichofthetwosisterswaspreferredbyCaptainWentworthwasasyetquitedoubtful,asfarasAnne’sobservationreached.Henriettawasperhapstheprettiest,Louisahadthehigherspiritsandsheknewnotnow,whetherthemoregentleorthemorelivelycharacterweremostlikelytoattracthim.
MrandMrsMusgrove,eitherfromseeinglittle,orfromanentireconfidenceinthediscretionofboththeirdaughters,andofalltheyoungmenwhocamenearthem,seemedtoleaveeverythingtotakeitschance.TherewasnotthesmallestappearanceofsolicitudeorremarkaboutthemintheMansion-housebutitwasdifferentattheCottage:theyoungcouplethereweremoredisposedtospeculateandwonderandCaptainWentworthhadnotbeenabovefourorfivetimesintheMissMusgroves’company,andCharlesHayterhadbutjustreappeared,whenAnnehadtolistentotheopinionsofherbrotherandsister,astowhichwastheonelikedbest.CharlesgaveitforLouisa,MaryforHenrietta,butquiteagreeingthattohavehimmarryeithercouldbeextremelydelightful.
Charles“hadneverseenapleasantermaninhislifeandfromwhathehadonceheardCaptainWentworthhimselfsay,wasverysurethathehadnotmadelessthantwentythous