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sometimes！—I assure you； Miss Anne； it prevents my wishing to
see them at our house so often as I otherwise should。 I believe Mrs。
Charles is not quite pleased with my not inviting them oftener； but
you know it is very bad to have children with one that one is
obligated to be checking every moment； ‘don’t do this； and don’t
do that；’—or that one can only keep in tolerable order by more
cake than is good for them。”
She had this communication； moreover； from Mary。 “Mrs。
Musgrove thinks all her servants so steady； that it would be high
treason to call it in question； but I am sure； without exaggeration；
that her upper house…maid and laundry…maid； instead of being in
their business； are gadding about the village； all day long。 I meet
them wherever I go； and I declare； I never go twice into my
nursery without seeing something of them。 If Jemima were not the
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trustiest； steadiest creature in the world； it would be enough to
spoil her； for she tells me； they are always tempting her to take a
walk with them。” And on Mrs。 Musgrove’s side； it was；—“I make a
rule of never interfering in any of my daughter…in…law’s concerns；
for I know it would not do； but I shall tell you； Miss Anne； because
you may be able to set things to rights； that I have no very good
opinion of Mrs。 Charles’s nursery…maid： I hear strange stories of
her； she is always upon the gad； and from my own knowledge； I
can declare； she is such a fine…dressing lady； that she is enough to
ruin any servants she comes near。 Mrs。 Charles quite swears by
her； I know； but I just give you this hint； that you may be upon the
watch； because； if you see anything amiss； you need not be afraid
of mentioning it。”
Again； it was Mary’s complaint； that Mrs。 Musgrove was very
apt not to give her the precedence that was her due； when they
dined at the Great House with other families； and she did not see
any reason why she was to be considered so much at home as to
lose her place。 And one day when Anne was walking with only the
Musgroves； one of them after talking of rank； people of rank； and
jealousy of rank； said； “I have no scruple of observing to you； how
nonsensical some persons are about their place； because all the
world knows how easy and indifferent you are about it； but I wish
anybody could give Mary a hint that it would be a great deal better
if she were not so very tenacious； especially if she would not be
always putting herself forward to take place of mamma。 Nobody
doubts her right to have precedence of mamma； but it would be
more becoming in her not to be always insisting on it。 It is not that
mamma cares about it the least in the world； but I know it is taken
notice of by many persons。”
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How was Anne to set all these matters to rights？ She could do
little more than listen patiently； soften every grievance； and
excuse each to the other； give them all hints of the forbearance
necessary between such near neighbours； and make those hints
broadest which were meant for her sister’s benefit。
In all other respects； her visit began and proceeded very well。
Her own spirits improved by change of place and subject； by being
removed three miles from Kellynch； Mary’s ailments lessened by
having a constant companion； and their daily intercourse with the
other family； since there was neither superior affection；
confidence； nor employment in the cottage； to be interrupted by it；
was rather an advantage。 It was certainly carried nearly as far as
possible； for they met every morning； and hardly ever spent an
evening asunder； but she believed they should not have done so
well without the sight of Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove’s respectable
forms in the usual places； or without the talking； laughing； and
singing of their daughters。
She played a great deal better than either of the Miss
Musgroves； but having no voice； no knowledge of the harp； and no
fond parents； to sit by and fancy themselves delighted； her
performance was little thought of； only out of civility； or to refresh
the others； as she was well aware。 She knew that when she played
she was giving pleasure only to herself； but this was no new
sensation： excepting one short period of her life； she had never；
since the age of fourteen； never since the loss of her dear mother；
know the happiness of being listened to； or encouraged by any just
appreciation or real taste。 In music she had been always used to
feel alone in the world； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove’s fond
partiality for their own daughters’ performance； and total
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indifference to any other person’s； gave her much more pleasure
for their sakes； than mortification for her own。
The party at the Great House was sometimes increased by
other company。 The neighbourhood was not large； but the
Musgroves were visited by everybody； and had more dinner…
parties； and more callers； more visitors by invitation and by
chance； than any other family。 There were more completely
popular。
The girls were wild for dancing； and the evenings ended；
occasionally； in an unpremeditated little ball。 There was a family
of cousins within a walk of Uppercross； in less affluent
circumstances； who depended on the Musgroves for all their
pleasures： they would come at any time； and help play at anything；
or dance anywhere； and Anne； very much preferring the office of
musician to a more active post； played country dances to them by
the hour together； a kindness which always recommended her
musical powers to the notice of Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove more than
anything else； and often drew this compliment；—“Well done； Miss
Anne！ very well done indeed！ Lord bless me！ how those little
fingers of yours fly about！”
So passed the first three weeks。 Michaelmas came； and now
Anne’s heart must be in Kellynch again。 A beloved home made
over to others； all the precious rooms and furniture； groves； and
prospects； beginning to own other eyes and other limbs！ She could
not think of much else on the 29th of September； and she had this
sympathetic touch in the evening from Mary； who； on having
occasion to note down the day of the month； exclaimed； “Dear me；
is not this the day the Crofts were to come to Kellynch？ I am glad I
did not think of it before。 How low it makes me！”
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The Crofts took possession with true naval alertness； and were
to be visited。 Mary deplored the necessity for herself。 “Nobody
knew how much she should suffer。 She should put it off as long as
she could；” but was not easy till she had talked Charles into
driving her over on an early day； and was in a very animated；
comfortable state of imaginary agitation； when she came back。
Anne had very sincerely rejoiced in there being no means of her
going。 She wished； however to see the Crofts； and was glad to be
within when the visit was returned。 They came； the master of the
house was not at home； but the two sisters were together； and as it
chanced that Mrs。 Croft fell to the