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for a week or ten days； till her head was stronger。 He had talked of
going down to Plymouth for a week； and wanted to persuade
Captain Benwick to go with him； but； as Charles maintained to the
last； Captain Benwick seemed much more disposed to ride over to
Kellynch。
There can be no doubt that Lady Russell and Anne were both
occasionally thinking of Captain Benwick； from this time。 Lady
Russell could not hear the door…bell without feeling that it might
be his herald； nor could Anne return from any stroll of solitary
indulgence in her father’s grounds； or any visit of charity in the
village； without wondering whether she might see him or hear of
him。 Captain Benwick came not； however。 He was either less
disposed for it than Charles had imagined； or he was too shy； and
after giving him a week’s indulgence； Lady Russell determined
him to be unworthy of the interest which he had been beginning to
excite。
The Musgroves came back to receive their happy boys and girls
from school； bringing with them Mrs。 Harville’s little children； to
improve the noise of Uppercross； and lessen that of Lyme。
Henrietta remained with Louisa； but all the rest of the family were
again in their usual quarters。
Lady Russell and Anne paid their compliments to them once；
when Anne could not but feel that Uppercross was already quite
alive again。 Though neither Henrietta； nor Louisa； nor Charles
Hayter； nor Captain Wentworth were there； the room presented as
strong a contrast as could be wished to the last state she had seen
it in。
Immediately surrounding Mrs。 Musgrove were the little
Harvilles； whom she was sedulously guarding from the tyranny of
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the two children from the Cottage； expressly arrived to amuse
them。 On one side was a table occupied by some chattering girls；
cutting up silk and gold paper； and on the other were tressels and
trays； bending under the weight of brawn and cold pies； where
riotous boys were holding high revel； the whole completed by a
roaring Christmas fire； which seemed determined to be heard； in
spite of all the noise of the others。 Charles and Mary also came in；
of course； during their visit； and Mr。 Musgrove made a point of
paying his respects to Lady Russell； and sat down close to her for
ten minutes； talking with a very raised voice； but from the clamour
of the children on his knees； generally in vain。 It was a fine family…
piece。
Anne； judging from her own temperament； would have deemed
such a domestic hurricane a bad restorative of the nerves； which
Louisa’s illness must have so greatly shaken。 But Mrs。 Musgrove；
who got Anne near her on purpose to thank her most cordially；
again and again； for all her attentions to them； concluded a short
recapitulation of what she had suffered herself by observing； with
a happy glance round the room； that after all she had gone
through； nothing was so likely to do her good as a little quiet
cheerfulness at home。
Louisa was now recovering apace。 Her mother could even think
of her being able to join their party at home； before her brothers
and sisters went to school again。 The Harvilles had promised to
come with her and stay at Uppercross； whenever she returned。
Captain Wentworth was gone； for the present； to see his brother in
Shropshire。
“I hope I shall remember； in future；” said Lady Russell； as soon
as they were reseated in the carriage； “not to call at Uppercross in
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the Christmas holidays。”
Every body has their taste in noises as well as in other matters；
and sounds are quite innoxious； or most distressing； by their sort
rather than their quantity。 When Lady Russell； not long
afterwards； was entering Bath on a wet afternoon； and driving
through the long course of streets from the Old Bridge to Camden…
place； amidst the dash of other carriages； the heavy rumble of
carts and drays； the bawling of newspapermen； muffin…men and
milk…men； and the ceaseless clink of pattens； she made no
complaint。 No； these were noises which belonged to the winter
pleasures； her spirits rose under their influence； and； like Mrs。
Musgrove； she was feeling； though not saying； that after being long
in the country； nothing could be so good for her as a little quiet
cheerfulness。
Anne did not share these feelings。 She persisted in a very
determined； though very silent disinclination for Bath； caught the
first dim view of the extensive buildings； smoking in rain； without
any wish of seeing them better； felt their progress through the
streets to be； however disagreeable； yet too rapid； for who would
be glad to see her when she arrived？ And looked back； with fond
regret； to the bustles of Uppercross and the seclusion of Kellynch。
Elizabeth’s last letter had communicated a piece of news of
some interest。 Mr。 Elliot was in Bath。 He had called in Camden…
place； had called a second time； a third； had been pointedly
attentive。 If Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves；
had been taking much pains to seek the acquaintance； and
proclaim the value of the connection； as he had formerly taken
pains to shew neglect。 This was very wonderful if it were true； and
Lady Russell was in a state of very agreeable curiosity and
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perplexity about Mr。 Elliot； already recanting the sentiment she
had so lately expressed to Mary； of his being “a man whom she
had no wish to see。” She had a great wish to see him。 If he really
sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch； he must be
forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree。
Anne was not animated to an equal pitch by the circumstance；
but she felt that she would rather see Mr。 Elliot again than not；
which was more than she could say for many other persons in
Bath。
She was put down in Camden…place； and Lady Russell then
drove to her own lodgings； in Rivers…street。
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CHAPTER III
ir Walter had taken a very good house in Camden…place； a
lofty dignified situation； such as becomes a man of
S
consequence； and both he and Elizabeth were settled
there； much to their satisfaction。
Anne entered it with a sinking heart； anticipating an
imprisonment of many months； and anxiously saying to herself；
“Oh！ when shall I leave you again？” A degree of unexpected
cordiality； however； in the welcome she received； did her good。
Her father and sister were glad to see her； for the sake of shewing
her the house and furniture； and met her with kindness。 Her
making a fourth； when they sat down to dinner； was noticed as an
advantage。
Mrs。 Clay was very pleasant； and very smiling； but her
courtesies and smiles were more a matter of course。 Anne had
always felt that she would pretend what was proper on her arriva