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chanced that Mrs。 Croft fell to the share of Anne； while the
Admiral sat by Mary； and made himself very agreeable by his
good…humoured notice of her little boys； she was well able to
watch for a likeness； and if it failed her in the features； to catch it
in the voice； or in the turn of sentiment and expression。
Mrs。 Croft； though neither tall nor fat； had a squareness；
uprightness； and vigour of form； which gave importance to her
person。 She had bright dark eyes； good teeth； and altogether an
agreeable face； though her reddened and weather…beaten
complexion； the consequence of her having been almost as much
at sea as her husband； made her seem to have lived some years
longer in the world than her real eight…and…thirty。 Her manners
were open； easy； and decided； like one who had no distrust of
herself； and no doubts of what to do； without any approach to
coarseness； however； or any want of good humour。 Anne gave her
credit； indeed； for feelings of great consideration towards herself；
in all that related to Kellynch； and it pleased her： especially； as she
had satisfied herself in the very first half minute； in the instant
even of introduction； that there was not the smallest symptom of
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any knowledge or suspicion on Mrs。 Croft’s side； to give a bias of
any sort。 She was quite easy on that head； and consequently full of
strength and courage； till for a moment electrified by Mrs。 Croft’s
suddenly saying；—
“It was you； and not your sister； I find； that my brother had the
pleasure of being acquainted with； when he was in this country。”
Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing； but the age of
emotion she certainly had not。
“Perhaps you may not have heard that he is married？” added
Mrs。 Croft。
She could now answer as she ought； and was happy to feel；
when Mrs。 Croft’s next words explained it to be Mr。 Wentworth of
whom she spoke； that she had said nothing which might not do for
either brother。 She immediately felt how reasonable it was； that
Mrs。 Croft should be thinking and speaking of Edward； and not of
Frederick； and with shame at her own forgetfulness applied
herself to the knowledge of their former neighbour’s present state
with proper interest。
The rest was all tranquillity； till just as they were moving； she
heard the Admiral say to Mary—
“We are expecting a brother of Mrs。 Croft’s here soon； I dare
say you know him by name。”
He was cut short by the eager attacks of the little boys； clinging
to him like an old friend； and declaring he should not go； and
being too much engrossed by proposals of carrying them away in
his coat pockets； &c。； to have another moment for finishing or
recollecting what he had begun； Anne was left to persuade herself；
as well as she could； that the same brother must still be in
question。 She could not； however； reach such a degree of
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certainty； as not to be anxious to hear whether anything had been
said on the subject at the other house； where the Crofts had
previously been calling。
The folks of the Great House were to spend the evening of this
day at the Cottage； and it being now too late in the year for such
visits to be made on foot； the coach was beginning to be listened
for； when the youngest Miss Musgrove walked in。 That she was
coming to apologize； and that they should have to spend the
evening by themselves； was the first black idea； and Mary was
quite ready to be affronted； when Louisa made all right by saying；
that she only came on foot； to leave more room for the harp； which
was bringing in the carriage。
“And I will tell you our reason；” she added； “and all about it。 I
am come on to give you notice； that papa and mamma are out of
spirits this evening； especially mamma； she is thinking so much of
poor Richard！ And we agreed it would be best to have the harp； for
it seems to amuse her more than the piano…forte。 I will tell you
why she is out of spirits。 When the Crofts called this morning；
（they called here afterwards； did not they？） they happened to say；
that her brother； Captain Wentworth； is just returned to England；
or paid off； or something； and is coming to see them almost
directly； and most unluckily it came into mamma’s head； when
they were gone； that Wentworth； or something very like it； was the
name of poor Richard’s captain at one time； I do not know when or
where； but a great while before he died； poor fellow！ And upon
looking over his letters and things； she found it was so； and is
perfectly sure that this must be the very man； and her head is
quite full of it； and of poor Richard！ So we must be as merry as we
can； that she may not be dwelling upon such gloomy things。”
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The real circumstances of this pathetic piece of family history
were； that the Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very
troublesome； hopeless son； and the good fortune to lose him
before he reached his twentieth year； that he had been sent to sea
because he was stupid and unmanageable on shore； that he had
been very little cared for at any time by his family； though quite as
much as he deserved； seldom heard of； and scarcely at all
regretted； when the intelligence of his death abroad had worked
its way to Uppercross； two years before。
He had； in fact； though his sisters were now doing all they could
for him； by calling him “poor Richard；” been nothing better than a
thick…headed； unfeeling； unprofitable Dick Musgrove； who had
never done anything to entitle himself to more than the
abbreviation of his name； living or dead。
He had been several years at sea； and had； in the course of
those removals to which all midshipmen are liable； and especially
such midshipmen as every captain wishes to get rid of； been six
months on board Captain Frederick Wentworth’s frigate； the
Laconia； and from the Laconia he had； under the influence of his
captain； written the only two letters which his father and mother
had ever received from him during the whole of his absence； that
is to say； the only two disinterested letters； all the rest had been
mere applications for money。
In each letter he had spoken well of his captain； but yet； so little
were they in the habit of attending to such matters； so
unobservant and incurious were they as to the names of men or
ships； that it had made scarcely any impression at the time； and
that Mrs。 Musgrove should have been suddenly struck； this very
day； with a recollection of the name of Wentworth； as connected
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with her son； seemed one of those extraordinary bursts of mind
which do sometimes occur。
She had gone to her letters； and found it all as she supposed；
and the re…perusal of these letters； after so long an interval； her
poor son gone for ever； and all the strength of his faults forgotten；
had affected her spirits exceedingly； and thrown her into greater
grief for him than she had know on first hearing of