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consequence that he should know his own mind early enough not
to be endangering the happiness of either sister； or impeaching his
own honour； than that he should prefer Henrietta to Louisa； or
Louisa to Henrietta。 Either of them would； in all probability； make
him an affectionate； good…humoured wife。 With regard to Charles
Hayter； she had delicacy which must be pained by any lightness of
conduct in a well…meaning young woman； and a heart to
sympathize in any of the sufferings it occasioned； but if Henrietta
found herself mistaken in the nature of her feelings； the alteration
could not be understood too soon。
Charles Hayter had met with much to disquiet and mortify him
in his cousin’s behaviour。 She had too old a regard for him to be so
wholly estranged as might in two meetings extinguish every past
hope； and leave him nothing to do but to keep away from
Uppercross； but there was such a change as became very
alarming； when such a man as Captain Wentworth was to be
regarded as the probable cause。 He had been absent only two
Sundays； and when they parted； had left her interested； even to
the height of his wishes； in his prospect of soon quitting his
present curacy； and obtaining that of Uppercross instead。 It had
then seemed the object nearest her heart； that Dr。 Shirley； the
rector； who for more than forty years had been zealously
discharging all the duties of his office； but was now growing too
infirm for many of them； should be quite fixed on engaging a
curate； should make his curacy quite as good as he could afford；
and should give Charles Hayter the promise of it。 The advantage
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of his having to come only to Uppercross； instead of going six
miles another way； of his having； in every respect； a better curacy；
of his belonging to their dear Dr。 Shirley； and of dear； good Dr。
Shirley’s being relieved from the duty which he could no longer
get through without most injurious fatigue； had been a great deal；
even to Louisa； but had been almost every thing to Henrietta。
When he came back； alas！ the zeal of the business was gone by。
Louisa could not listen at all to his account of a conversation
which he had just held with Dr。 Shirley： she was at a window；
looking out for Captain Wentworth； and even Henrietta had at
best only a divided attention to give； and seemed to have forgotten
all the former doubt and solicitude of the negotiation。
“Well； I am very glad indeed； but I always thought you would
have it； I always thought you sure。 It did not appear to me that—In
short； you know； Dr。 Shirley must have a curate； and you had
secured his promise。 Is he coming； Louisa？”
One morning； very soon after the dinner at the Musgroves； at
which Anne had not been present； Captain Wentworth walked
into the drawing…room at the Cottage； where were only herself and
the little invalid Charles； who was lying on the sofa。
The surprise of finding himself almost alone with Anne Elliot；
deprived his manners of their usual composure： he started； and
could only say； “I thought the Miss Musgroves had been here—
Mrs。 Musgrove told me I should find them here；” before he walked
to the window to recollect himself； and feel how he ought to
behave。
“They are up stairs with my sister—they will be down in a few
moments； I dare say；”—had been Anne’s reply； in all the confusion
that was natural； and if the child had not called her to come and
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do something for him； she would have been out of the room the
next moment； and released Captain Wentworth as well as herself。
He continued at the window； and after calmly and politely
saying； “I hope the little boy is better；” was silent。
She was obliged to kneel down by the sofa； and remain there to
satisfy her patient； and thus they continued a few minutes； when；
to her very great satisfaction； she heard some other person
crossing the little vestibule。 She hoped； on turning her head； to see
the master of the house； but it proved to be one much less
calculated for making matters easy—Charles Hayter； probably not
at all better pleased by the sight of Captain Wentworth than
Captain Wentworth had been by the sight of Anne。
She only attempted to say； “How do you do？ Will you not sit
down？ The others will be here presently。”
Captain Wentworth； however； came from his window；
apparently not ill…disposed for conversation； but Charles Hayter
soon put an end to his attempts by seating himself near the table；
and taking up the newspaper； and Captain Wentworth returned to
his window。
Another minute brought another addition。 The younger boy； a
remarkable stout； forward child； of two years old； having got the
door opened for him by some one without； made his determined
appearance among them； and went straight to the sofa to see what
was going on； and put in his claim to any thing good that might be
giving away。
There being nothing to eat； he could only have some play； and
as his aunt would not let him tease his sick brother； he began to
fasten himself upon her； as she knelt； in such a way that； busy as
she was about Charles； she could not shake him off。 She spoke to
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him—ordered； entreated； and insisted in vain。 Once she did
contrive to push him away； but the boy had the greater pleasure in
getting upon her back again directly。
“Walter；” said she； “get down this moment。 You are extremely
troublesome。 I am very angry with you。”
“Walter；” cried Charles Hayter； “why do you not do as you are
bid？ Do not you hear your aunt speak？ Come to me； Walter； come
to cousin Charles。”
But not a bit did Walter stir。
In another moment； however； she found herself in the state of
being released from him； some one was taking him from her；
though he had bent down her head so much； that his little sturdy
hands were unfastened from around her neck； and he was
resolutely borne away； before she knew that Captain Wentworth
had done it。
Her sensations on the discovery made her perfectly speechless。
She could not even thank him。 She could only hang over little
Charles； with most disordered feelings。 His kindness in stepping
forward to her relief—the manner—the silence in which it had
passed—the little particulars of the circumstance—with the
conviction soon forced on her by the noise he was studiously
making with the child； that he meant to avoid hearing her thanks；
and rather sought to testify that her conversation was the last of
his wants； produced such a confusion of varying； but very painful
agitation； as she could not recover from； till enabled by the
entrance of Mary and the Miss Musgroves to make over her little
patient to their cares； and leave the room。 She could not stay。 It
might have been an opportunity of watching the loves and
jealousies of the four； they were now altogether； but she could stay
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for none of it。 It was evident that Charles Hayter was not well
inclined t