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companions were at first unconsciously given。 They had travelled
half their way along the rough lane； before she was quite awake to
what they said。 She then found them talking of “Frederick。”
“He certainly means to have one or other of those two girls；
Sophy；” said the Admiral；—“but there is no saying which。 He has
been running after them； too； long enough； one would think； to
make up his mind。 Ay； this comes of the peace。 If it were war； now；
he would have settled it long ago。—We sailors； Miss Elliot； cannot
afford to make long courtships in time of war。 How many days was
it； my dear； between the first time of my seeing you and our sitting
down together in our lodgings at North Yarmouth？”
“We had better not talk about it； my dear；” replied Mrs。 Croft；
pleasantly； “for if Miss Elliot were to hear how soon we came to an
understanding； she would never be persuaded that we could be
happy together。 I had known you by character； however； long
before。”
“Well； and I had heard of you as a very pretty girl； and what
were we to wait for besides？—I do not like having such things so
long in hand。 I wish Frederick would spread a little more canvass；
and bring us home one of these young ladies to Kellynch。 Then
there would always be company for us。—And very nice young
ladies they both are； I hardly know one from the other。”
“Very good humoured； unaffected girls； indeed；” said Mrs。
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Croft； in a tone of calmer praise； such as made Anne suspect that
her keener powers might not consider either of them as quite
worthy of her brother； “and a very respectable family。 One could
not be connected with better people。—My dear Admiral； that
post！—we shall certainly take that post。”
But by coolly giving the reins a better direction herself they
happily passed the danger； and by once afterwards judiciously
putting out her hand they neither fell into a rut； nor ran foul of a
dung…cart； and Anne； with some amusement at their style of
driving； which she imagined no bad representation of the general
guidance of their affairs； found herself safely deposited by them at
the Cottage。
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CHAPTER XI
he time now approached for Lady Russell’s return； the
day was even fixed； and Anne； being engaged to join her
T
as soon as she was resettled； was looking forward to an
early removal to Kellynch； and beginning to think how her own
comfort was likely to be affected by it。
It would place her in the same village with Captain Wentworth；
within half a mile of him； they would have to frequent the same
church； and there must be intercourse between the two families。
This was against her； but on the other hand； he spent so much of
his time at Uppercross； that in removing thence she might be
considered rather as leaving him behind； than as going towards
him； and； upon the whole； she believed she must； on this
interesting question； be the gainer； almost as certainly as in her
change of domestic society； in leaving poor Mary for Lady Russell。
She wished it might be possible for her to avoid ever seeing
Captain Wentworth at the Hall：—those rooms had witnessed
former meetings which would be brought too painfully before her；
but she was yet more anxious for the possibility of Lady Russell
and Captain Wentworth never meeting anywhere。 They did not
like each other； and no renewal of acquaintance now could do any
good； and were Lady Russell to see them together； she might think
that he had too much self…possession； and she too little。
These points formed her chief solicitude in anticipating her
removal from Uppercross； where she felt she had been stationed
quite long enough。 Her usefulness to little Charles would always
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give some sweetness to the memory of her two months’ visit there；
but he was gaining strength apace； and she had nothing else to
stay for。
The conclusion of her visit； however； was diversified in a way
which she had not at all imagined。 Captain Wentworth； after being
unseen and unheard of at Uppercross for two whole days；
appeared again among them to justify himself by a relation of what
had kept him away。
A letter from his friend； Captain Harville； having found him out
at last； had brought intelligence of Captain Harville’s being settled
with his family at Lyme for the winter； of their being therefore；
quite unknowingly； within twenty miles of each other。 Captain
Harville had never been in good health since a severe wound
which he received two years before； and Captain Wentworth’s
anxiety to see him had determined him to go immediately to
Lyme。 He had been there for four…and…twenty hours。 His acquittal
was complete； his friendship warmly honoured； a lively interest
excited for his friend； and his description of the fine country about
Lyme so feelingly attended to by the party； that an earnest desire
to see Lyme themselves； and a project for going thither was the
consequence。
The young people were all wild to see Lyme。 Captain
Wentworth talked of going there again himself； it was only
seventeen miles from Uppercross； though November； the weather
was by no means bad； and； in short； Louisa； who was the most
eager of the eager； having formed the resolution to go； and besides
the pleasure of doing as she liked； being now armed with the idea
of merit in maintaining her own way； bore down all the wishes of
her father and mother for putting it off till summer； and to Lyme
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they were to go—Charles； Mary； Anne； Henrietta； Louisa； and
Captain Wentworth。
The first heedless scheme had been to go in the morning and
return at night； but to this Mr。 Musgrove； for the sake of his
horses； would not consent； and when it came to be rationally
considered； a day in the middle of November would not leave
much time for seeing a new place； after deducting seven hours； as
the nature of the country required； for going and returning。 They
were； consequently； to stay the night there； and not to be expected
back till the next day’s dinner。 This was felt to be a considerable
amendment； and though they all met at the Great House at rather
an early breakfast hour； and set off very punctually； it was so
much past noon before the two carriages； Mr。 Musgrove’s coach
containing the four ladies； and Charles’s curricle； in which he
drove Captain Wentworth； were descending the long hill into
Lyme； and entering upon the still steeper street of the town itself；
that it was very evident they would not have more than time for
looking about them； before the light and warmth of the day were
gone。
After securing accommodations； and ordering a dinner at one
of the inns； the next thing to be done was unquestionably to walk
directly down to the sea。 They were come too late in the year for
any amusement or variety which Lyme； as a public place； might
offer。 The rooms were shut up； the