ThoughCharlesandMaryhadremainedatLymemuchlongerafterMrandMrsMusgrove’sgoingthanAnneconceivedtheycouldhavebeenatallwanted,theywereyetthefirstofthefamilytobeathomeagainandassoonaspossibleaftertheirreturntoUppercrosstheydroveovertotheLodge.TheyhadleftLouisabeginningtositupbutherhead,thoughclear,wasexceedinglyweak,andhernervessusceptibletothehighestextremeoftendernessandthoughshemightbepronouncedtobealtogetherdoingverywell,itwasstillimpossibletosaywhenshemightbeabletobeartheremovalhomeandherfatherandmother,whomustreturnintimetoreceivetheiryoungerchildrenfortheChristmasholidays,hadhardlyahopeofbeingallowedtobringherwiththem.
Theyhadbeenallinlodgingstogether.MrsMusgrovehadgotMrsHarville’schildrenawayasmuchasshecould,everypossiblesupplyfromUppercrosshadbeenfurnished,tolightentheinconveniencetotheHarvilles,whiletheHarvilleshadbeenwantingthemtocometodinnereverydayandinshort,itseemedtohavebeenonlyastruggleoneachsideastowhichshouldbemostdisinterestedandhospitable.
Maryhadhadherevilsbutuponthewhole,aswasevidentbyherstayingsolong,shehadfoundmoretoenjoythantosuffer.CharlesHayterhadbeenatLymeoftenerthansuitedherandwhentheydinedwiththeHarvillestherehadbeenonlyamaid-servanttowait,andatfirstMrsHarvillehadalwaysgivenMrsMusgroveprecedencebutthen,shehadreceivedsoveryhandsomeanapologyfromheronfindingoutwhosedaughtershewas,andtherehadbeensomuchgoingoneveryday,therehadbeensomanywalksbetweentheirlodgingsandtheHarvilles,andshehadgotbooksfromthelibrary,andchangedthemsooften,thatthebalancehadcertainlybeenmuchinfavourofLyme.ShehadbeentakentoCharmouthtoo,andshehadbathed,andshehadgonetochurch,andtherewereagreatmanymorepeopletolookatinthechurchatLymethanatUppercrossandallthis,joinedtothesenseofbeingsoveryuseful,hadmadereallyanagreeablefortnight.
AnneenquiredafterCaptainBenwick.Mary’sfacewascloudeddirectly.Charleslaughed.
“Oh!CaptainBenwickisverywell,Ibelieve,butheisaveryoddyoungman.Idonotknowwhathewould