AnneandHenrietta,findingthemselvestheearliestofthepartythenextmorning,agreedtostrolldowntotheseabeforebreakfast.Theywenttothesands,towatchtheflowingofthetide,whichafinesouth-easterlybreezewasbringinginwithallthegrandeurwhichsoflatashoreadmitted.Theypraisedthemorninggloriedintheseasympathizedinthedelightofthefresh-feelingbreeze—andweresilenttillHenriettasuddenlybeganagainwith—
“Oh!yes,—Iamquiteconvincedthat,withveryfewexceptions,thesea-airalwaysdoesgood.TherecanbenodoubtofitshavingbeenofthegreatestservicetoDrShirley,afterhisillness,lastspringtwelve-month.Hedeclareshimself,thatcomingtoLymeforamonth,didhimmoregoodthanallthemedicinehetookand,thatbeingbythesea,alwaysmakeshimfeelyoungagain.Now,Icannothelpthinkingitapitythathedoesnotliveentirelybythesea.IdothinkhehadbetterleaveUppercrossentirely,andfixatLyme.Donotyou,Anne?Donotyouagreewithme,thatitisthebestthinghecoulddo,bothforhimselfandMrsShirley?Shehascousinshere,youknow,andmanyacquaintance,whichwouldmakeitcheerfulforher,andIamsureshewouldbegladtogettoaplacewhereshecouldhavemedicalattendanceathand,incaseofhishavinganotherseizure.IndeedIthinkitquitemelancholytohavesuchexcellentpeopleasDrandMrsShirley,whohavebeendoinggoodalltheirlives,wearingouttheirlastdaysinaplacelikeUppercross,where,exceptingourfamily,theyseemshutoutfromalltheworld.Iwishhisfriendswouldproposeittohim.Ireallythinktheyought.And,astoprocuringadispensation,therecouldbenodifficultyathistimeoflife,andwithhischaracter.Myonlydoubtis,whetheranythingcouldpersuadehimtoleavehisparish.Heissoverystrictandscrupulousinhisnotionsover-scrupulousImustsay.Donotyouthink,Anne,itisbeingover-scrupulous?Donotyouthinkitisquiteamistakenpointofconscience,whenaclergymansacrificeshishealthforthesakeofduties,whichmaybejustaswellperformedbyanotherperson?AndatLymetoo,onlyseventeenmilesoff,hewouldbenearenoughtohear,ifpeoplethoughttherewasanythingtocomplainof.”
Annesmiledmorethanoncetoherselfduringthisspeech,andenteredintothesubject,asreadytodogoodbyenteringintothefeelingsofayoungladyasofayoungman,thoughhereitwasgoodofalowerstandard,forwhatcouldbeofferedbutgeneralacquiescence?ShesaidallthatwasreasonableandproperonthebusinessfelttheclaimsofDrShirleytoreposeassheoughtsawhowverydesirableitwasthatheshouldhavesomeactive,respectableyoungman,asaresidentcurate,andwasevencourteousenoughtohintattheadvantageofsuchresidentcurate’sbeingmarried.
“Iwish,”saidHenrietta,verywellpleasedwithhercompanion,“IwishLadyRusselllivedatUppercross,andwereintimatewithDrShirley.IhavealwaysheardofLadyRussellasawomanofthegreatestinfl