othesforherselfandhersisterand,inshort,itendedinbeinghismother’sparty,thateverythingmightbecomfortableandeasytoCaptainHarvilleandheandMarywereincludedinitbywayofgeneralconvenience.Theyhadarrivedlatethenightbefore.MrsHarville,herchildren,andCaptainBenwick,remainedwithMrMusgroveandLouisaatUppercross.
Anne’sonlysurprisewas,thataffairsshouldbeinforwardnessenoughforHenrietta’swedding-clothestobetalkedof.ShehadimaginedsuchdifficultiesoffortunetoexistthereasmustpreventthemarriagefrombeingnearathandbutshelearnedfromCharlesthat,veryrecently,(sinceMary’slastlettertoherself),CharlesHayterhadbeenappliedtobyafriendtoholdalivingforayouthwhocouldnotpossiblyclaimitundermanyyearsandthatonthestrengthofhispresentincome,withalmostacertaintyofsomethingmorepermanentlongbeforetheterminquestion,thetwofamilieshadconsentedtotheyoungpeople’swishes,andthattheirmarriagewaslikelytotakeplaceinafewmonths,quiteassoonasLouisa’s.“Andaverygoodlivingitwas,”Charlesadded:“onlyfive-and-twentymilesfromUppercross,andinaveryfinecountry:finepartofDorsetshire.Inthecentreofsomeofthebestpreservesinthekingdom,surroundedbythreegreatproprietors,eachmorecarefulandjealousthantheotherandtotwoofthethreeatleast,CharlesHaytermightgetaspecialrecommendation.Notthathewillvalueitasheought,”heobserved,“Charlesistoocoolaboutsporting.That’stheworstofhim.”
“Iamextremelyglad,indeed,”criedAnne,“particularlygladthatthisshouldhappenandthatoftwosisters,whobothdeserveequallywell,andwhohavealwaysbeensuchgoodfriends,thepleasantprospectofoneshouldnotbedimmingthoseoftheother—thattheyshouldbesoequalintheirprosperityandcomfort.Ihopeyourfatherandmotherarequitehappywithregardtoboth.”
“Oh!yes.Myfatherwouldbewellpleasedifthegentlemenwerericher,buthehasnootherfaulttofind.Money,youknow,comingdownwithmoney—twodaughtersatonce—itcannotbeaveryagreeableoperation,anditstreightenshimastomanythings.However,Idonotmeantosaytheyhavenotarighttoit.Itisveryfittheyshouldhavedaughters’sharesandIamsurehehasalwaysbeenaverykind,liberalfathertome.MarydoesnotabovehalflikeHenrietta’smatch.Sheneverdid,youknow.Butshedoesnotdohimjustice,northinkenoughaboutWinthrop.Icannotmakeherattendtothevalueoftheproperty.Itisaveryfairmatch,astimesgoandIhavelikedCharlesHayterallmylife,andIshallnotleaveoffnow.”
“SuchexcellentparentsasMrandMrsMusgrove,”exclaimedAnne,“shouldbehappyintheirchildren’smarriages.Theydoeverythingtoconferhappiness,Iamsure.Whatablessingtoyoungpeopletobeinsuchhands!Yourfatherandmotherseemsototallyfreefromallthoseambitiousfeelingswhichhaveledtosomuchmisconductandmisery,bothinyoungandold.IhopeyouthinkLouisaperfectlyrecoverednow?”
Heansweredratherhesitatingly,“Yes,IbelieveIdoverymuchrecoveredbutsheisalteredthereisnorunningorjumpingabout,no