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summarily by exclaiming；
“Ay； a very bad business indeed。—A new sort of way this； for a
young fellow to be making love； by breaking his mistress’s head！—
is not it；—Miss Elliot？—This is breaking a head and giving a
plaister； truly！”
Admiral Croft’s manners were not quite of the tone to suit Lady
Russell； but they delighted Anne。 His goodness of heart and
simplicity of character were irresistible。
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“Now； this must be very bad for you；” said he； suddenly rousing
from a little reverie； “to be coming and finding us here。—I had not
recollected it before； I declare；—but it must be very bad。—But
now； do not stand upon ceremony。—Get up and go over all the
rooms in the house if you like it。”
“Another time； Sir； I thank you； not now。”
“Well； whenever it suits you。—You can slip in from the
shrubbery at any time； and there you will find we keep our
umbrellas hanging up by that door。 A good place is not it？ But；”
（checking himself）； “you will not think it a good place； for yours
were always kept in the butler’s room。 Ay； so it always is； I believe。
One man’s ways may be as good as another’s； but we all like our
own best。 And so you must judge for yourself； whether it would be
better for you to go about the house or not。”
Anne； finding she might decline it； did so； very gratefully。
“We have made very few changes either；” continued the
Admiral； after thinking a moment。 “Very few。—We told you about
the laundry…door； at Uppercross。 That has been a very great
improvement。 The wonder was； how any family upon earth could
bear with the inconvenience of its opening as it did； so long！—You
will tell Sir Walter what we have done； and that Mr。 Shepherd
thinks it the greatest improvement the house ever had。 Indeed； I
must do ourselves the justice to say； that the few alterations we
have made have been all very much for the better。 My wife should
have the credit of them； however。 I have done very little besides
sending away some of the large looking…glasses from my dressing…
room； which was your father’s。 A very good man； and very much
the gentleman I am sure—but I should think； Miss Elliot；” （looking
with serious reflection）； “I should think he must be rather a dressy
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man for his time of life。—Such a number of looking…glasses！ oh
Lord！ there was no getting away from one’s self。 So I got Sophy to
lend me a hand； and we soon shifted their quarters； and now I am
quite snug； with my little shaving glass in one corner； and another
great thing that I never go near。”
Anne； amused in spite of herself； was rather distressed for an
answer； and the Admiral； fearing he might not have been civil
enough； took up the subject again； to say；
“The next time you write to your good father； Miss Elliot； pray
give him my compliments and Mrs。 Croft’s； and say that we are
settled here quite to our liking； and have no fault at all to find with
the place。 The breakfast…room chimney smokes a little； I grant you；
but it is only when the wind is due north and blows hard； which
may not happen three times a winter。 And take it altogether； now
that we have been into most of the houses hereabouts and can
judge； there is not one that we like better than this。 Pray say so；
with my compliments。 He will be glad to hear it。”
Lady Russell and Mrs。 Croft were very well pleased with each
other： but the acquaintance which this visit began was fated not to
proceed far at present； for when it was returned； the Crofts
announced themselves to be going away for a few weeks； to visit
their connexions in the north of the county； and probably might
not be at home again before Lady Russell would be removing to
Bath。
So ended all danger to Anne of meeting Captain Wentworth at
Kellynch Hall； or of seeing him in company with her friend。
Everything was safe enough； and she smiled over the many
anxious feelings she had wasted on the subject。
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CHAPTER II
hough Charles and Mary had remained at Lyme much
longer after Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove’s going than Anne
T
conceived they could have been at all wanted； they were
yet the first of the family to be at home again； and as soon as
possible after their return to Uppercross they drove over to the
lodge。—They had left Louisa beginning to sit up； but her head；
though clear； was exceedingly weak； and her nerves susceptible to
the highest extreme of tenderness； and though she might be
pronounced to be altogether doing very well； it was still impossible
to say when she might be able to bear the removal home； and her
father and mother； who must return in time to receive their
younger children for the Christmas holidays； had hardly a hope of
being allowed to bring her with them。
They had been all in lodgings together。 Mrs。 Musgrove had got
Mrs。 Harville’s children away as much as she could； every possible
supply from Uppercross had been furnished； to lighten the
inconvenience to the Harvilles； while the Harvilles had been
wanting them to come to dinner every day； and in short； it seemed
to have been only a struggle on each side as to which should be
most disinterested and hospitable。
Mary had had her evils； but upon the whole； as was evident by
her staying so long； she had found more to enjoy than to suffer。—
Charles Hayter had been at Lyme oftener than suited her； and
when they dined with the Harvilles there had been only a maid…
servant to wait； and at first Mrs。 Harville