ngiveoccasiontosuchdirectlyoppositenotions.Iwishhemaybeinducedtocallhere.Andwhenhedoes,Mary,youmaydependuponhearingmyopinionbutIamdeterminednottojudgehimbeforehand.”
“Youwillnotlikehim,Iwillanswerforit.”
LadyRussellbegantalkingofsomethingelse.Maryspokewithanimationoftheirmeetingwith,orrathermissing,MrElliotsoextraordinarily.
“Heisaman,”saidLadyRussell,“whomIhavenowishtosee.Hisdecliningtobeoncordialtermswiththeheadofhisfamily,hasleftaverystrongimpressioninhisdisfavourwithme.”
ThisdecisioncheckedMary’seagerness,andstoppedhershortinthemidstoftheElliotcountenance.
WithregardtoCaptainWentworth,thoughAnnehazardednoenquiries,therewasvoluntarycommunicationsufficient.Hisspiritshadbeengreatlyrecoveringlatelyasmightbeexpected.AsLouisaimproved,hehadimproved,andhewasnowquiteadifferentcreaturefromwhathehadbeenthefirstweek.HehadnotseenLouisaandwassoextremelyfearfulofanyillconsequencetoherfromaninterview,thathedidnotpressforitatalland,onthecontrary,seemedtohaveaplanofgoingawayforaweekortendays,tillherheadwasstronger.HehadtalkedofgoingdowntoPlymouthforaweek,andwantedtopersuadeCaptainBenwicktogowithhimbut,asCharlesmaintainedtothelast,CaptainBenwickseemedmuchmoredisposedtorideovertoKellynch.
TherecanbenodoubtthatLadyRussellandAnnewerebothoccasionallythinkingofCaptainBenwick,fromthistime.LadyRussellcouldnothearthedoor-bellwithoutfeelingthatitmightbehisheraldnorcouldAnnereturnfromanystrollofsolitaryindulgenceinherfather’sgrounds,oranyvisitofcharityinthevillage,withoutwonderingwhethershemightseehimorhearofhim.CaptainBenwickcamenot,however.HewaseitherlessdisposedforitthanCharleshadimagined,orhewastooshyandaftergivinghimaweek’sindulgence,LadyRusselldeterminedhimtobeunworthyoftheinterestwhichhehadbeenbeginningtoexcite.
TheMusgrovescamebacktoreceivetheirhappyboysandgirlsfromschool,bringingwiththemMrsHarville’slittlechildren,toimprovethenoiseofUppercross,andlessenthatofLyme.Henriettaremain