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pretty； I really think poor Mrs。 Clay may be staying here in perfect
safety。 One would imagine you had never heard my father speak of
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her personal misfortunes； though I know you must fifty times。
That tooth of her’s and those freckles。 Freckles do not disgust me
so very much as they do him。 I have known a face not materially
disfigured by a few； but he abominates them。 You must have
heard him notice Mrs。 Clay’s freckles。”
“There is hardly any personal defect；” replied Anne； “which an
agreeable manner might not gradually reconcile one to。”
“I think very differently；” answered Elizabeth； shortly； “an
agreeable manner may set off handsome features； but can never
alter plain ones。 However； at any rate； as I have a great deal more
at stake on this point than anybody else can have； I think it rather
unnecessary in you to be advising me。”
Anne had done； glad that it was over； and not absolutely
hopeless of doing good。 Elizabeth； though resenting the suspicion；
might yet be made observant by it。
The last office of the four carriage…horses was to draw Sir
Walter； Miss Elliot； and Mrs。 Clay to Bath。 The party drove off in
very good spirits； Sir Walter prepared with condescending bows
for all the afflicted tenantry and cottagers who might have had a
hint to show themselves； and Anne walked up at the same time； in
a sort of desolate tranquillity； to the Lodge； where she was to
spend the first week。
Her friend was not in better spirits than herself。 Lady Russell
felt this break…up of the family exceedingly。 Their respectability
was as dear to her as her own； and a daily intercourse had become
precious by habit。 It was painful to look upon their deserted
grounds； and still worse to anticipate the new hands they were to
fall into； and to escape the solitariness and the melancholy of so
altered a village； and be out of the way when Admiral and Mrs。
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 43
Croft first arrived； she had determined to make her own absence
from home begin when she must give up Anne。 Accordingly their
removal was made together； and Anne was set down at
Uppercross Cottage； in the first stage of Lady Russell’s journey。
Uppercross was a moderate…sized village； which a few years
back had been completely in the old English style； containing only
two houses superior in appearance to those of the yeomen and
labourers；—the mansion of the ’squire； with its high walls； great
gates； and old trees； substantial and unmodernized—and the
compact； tight parsonage； enclosed in its own neat garden； with a
vine and a pear…tree trained round its casements； but upon the
marriage of the young ’squire； it had received the improvement of
a farm…house elevated into a cottage； for his residence； and
Uppercross Cottage； with its veranda； French windows； and other
prettiness； was quite as likely to catch the traveller’s eye as the
more consistent and considerable aspect and premises of the
Great House； about a quarter of a mile farther on。
Here Anne had often been staying。 She knew the ways of
Uppercross as well as those of Kellynch。 The two families were so
continually meeting； so much in the habit of running in and out of
each other’s house at all hours； that it was rather a surprise to her
to find Mary alone； but being alone； her being unwell and out of
spirits was almost a matter of course。 Though better endowed
than the elder sister； Mary had not Anne’s understanding nor
temper。 While well； and happy； and properly attended to； she had
great good humour and excellent spirits； but any indisposition
sunk her completely； she had no resources for solitude； and
inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot self…importance； was
very prone to add to every other distress that of fancying herself
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neglected and ill…used。 In person； she was inferior to both sisters；
and had； even in her bloom； only reached the dignity of being “a
fine girl。” She was now lying on the faded sofa of the pretty little
drawing…room； the once elegant furniture of which had been
gradually growing shabby； under the influence of four summers
and two children； and； on Anne’s appearing； greeted her with；
“So； you are come at last！ I began to think I should never see
you。 I am so ill I can hardly speak。 I have not seen a creature the
whole morning！”
“I am sorry to find you unwell；” replied Anne。 “You sent me
such a good account of yourself on Thursday！”
“Yes； I made the best of it； I always do； but I was very far from
well at the time； and I do not think I ever was so ill in my life as I
have been all this morning—very unfit to be left alone； I am sure。
Suppose I were to be seized of a sudden in some dreadful way； and
not able to ring the bell！ So； Lady Russell would not get out。 I do
not think she has been in this house three times this summer。”
Anne said what was proper； and enquired after her husband。
“Oh！ Charles is out shooting。 I have not seen him since seven
o’clock。 He would go； though I told him how ill I was。 He said he
should not stay out long； but he has never come back； and now it is
almost one。 I assure you； I have not seen a soul this whole long
morning。”
“You have had your little boys with you？”
“Yes； as long as I could bear their noise； but they are so
unmanageable that they do me more harm than good。 Little
Charles does not mind a word I say； and Walter is growing quite as
bad。”
“Well； you will soon be better now；” replied Anne； cheerfully。
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