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know you do not mind being left alone。 An excellent thought of
yours； indeed； Anne。 I will go and tell Charles； and get ready
directly。 You can send for us； you know； at a moment’s notice； if
anything is the matter； but I dare say there will be nothing to
alarm you。 I should not go； you may be sure； if I did not feel quite
at ease about my dear child。”
The next moment she was tapping at her husband’s dressing…
room door； and as Anne followed her up stairs； she was in time for
the whole conversation； which began with Mary’s saying； in a tone
of great exultation；
“I mean to go with you； Charles； for I am of no more use at
home than you are。 If I were to shut myself up for ever with the
child； I should not be able to persuade him to do anything he did
not like。 Anne will stay； Anne undertakes to stay at home and take
care of him。 It is Anne’s own proposal； and so I shall go with you；
which will be a great deal better； for I have not dined at the other
house since Tuesday。”
“This is very kind of Anne；” was her husband’s answer； “and I
should be very glad to have you go； but it seems rather hard that
she should be left at home by herself； to nurse our sick child。”
Anne was now at hand to take up her own cause； and the
sincerity of her manner being soon sufficient to convince him；
where conviction was at least very agreeable； he had no farther
scruples as to her being left to dine alone； though he still wanted
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her to join them in the evening； when the child might be at rest for
the night； and kindly urged her to let him come and fetch her； but
she was quite unpersuadable； and this being the case； she had ere
long the pleasure of seeing them set off together in high spirits。
They were gone； she hoped； to be happy； however oddly
constructed such happiness might seem； as for herself； she was
left with as many sensations of comfort； as were； perhaps； ever
likely to be hers。 She knew herself to be of the first utility to the
child； and what was it to her if Frederick Wentworth were only
half a mile distant； making himself agreeable to others？
She would have liked to know how he felt as to a meeting。
Perhaps indifferent； if indifference could exist under such
circumstances。 He must be either indifferent or unwilling。 Had he
wished ever to see her again； he need not have waited till this
time； he would have done what she could not but believe that in
his place she should have done long ago； when events had been
early giving him the independence which alone had been wanting。
Her brother and sister came back delighted with their new
acquaintance； and their visit in general。 There had been music；
singing； talking； laughing； all that was most agreeable； charming
manners in Captain Wentworth； no shyness or reserve； they
seemed all to know each other perfectly； and he was coming the
very next morning to shoot with Charles。 He was to come to
breakfast； but not at the Cottage； though that had been proposed
at first； but then he had been pressed to come to the Great House
instead； and he seemed afraid of being in Mrs。 Charles Musgrove’s
way； on account of the child； and therefore； somehow； they hardly
knew how； it ended in Charles’s being to meet him to breakfast at
his father’s。
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Anne understood it。 He wished to avoid seeing her。 He had
inquired after her； she found； slightly； as might suit a former slight
acquaintance； seeming to acknowledge such as she had
acknowledged； actuated； perhaps； by the same view of escaping
introduction when they were to meet。
The morning hours of the Cottage were always later than those
of the other house； and on the morrow the difference was so great
that Mary and Anne were not more than beginning breakfast
when Charles came in to say that they were just setting off； that he
was come for his dogs； that his sisters were following with Captain
Wentworth； his sisters meaning to visit Mary and the child； and
Captain Wentworth proposing also to wait on her for a few
minutes if not inconvenient； and though Charles had answered for
the child’s being in no such state as could make it inconvenient；
Captain Wentworth would not be satisfied without his running on
to give notice。
Mary； very much gratified by this attention； was delighted to
receive him； while a thousand feelings rushed on Anne； of which
this was the most consoling； that it would soon be over。 And it was
soon over。 In two minutes after Charles’s preparation； the others
appeared； they were in the drawing…room。 Her eye half met
Captain Wentworth’s； a bow； a curtsey passed； she heard his
voice—he talked to Mary； said all that was right； said something to
the Miss Musgroves； enough to mark an easy footing： the room
seemed full； full of persons and voices—but a few minutes ended
it。 Charles shewed himself at the window； all was ready； their
visitor had bowed and was gone； the Miss Musgroves were gone
too； suddenly resolving to walk to the end of the village with the
sportsmen： the room was cleared； and Anne might finish her
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breakfast as she could。
“It is over！ it is over！” she repeated to herself again and again；
in nervous gratitude。 “The worst is over！”
Mary talked； but she could not attend。 She had seen him。 They
had met。 They had been once more in the same room。
Soon； however； she began to reason with herself； and try to be
feeling less。 Eight years； almost eight years