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nor so revolting as his； and Anne would have compounded for the
marriage at once； with all its evils； to be clear of Mr。 Elliot’s
subtleties in endeavouring to prevent it。
On Friday morning she meant to go very early to Lady Russell；
and accomplish the necessary communication； and she would
have gone directly after breakfast； but that Mrs。 Clay was also
going out on some obliging purpose of saving her sister trouble；
which determined her to wait till she might be safe from such a
companion。 She saw Mrs。 Clay fairly off； therefore； before she
began to talk of spending the morning in Rivers…street。
“Very well；” said Elizabeth； “I have nothing to send but my
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love。 Oh！ you may as well take back that tiresome book she would
lend me； and pretend I have read it through。 I really cannot be
plaguing myself for ever with all the new poems and states of the
nation that come out。 Lady Russell quite bores one with her new
publications。 You need not tell her so； but I thought her dress
hideous the other night。 I used to think she had some taste in
dress； but I was ashamed of her at the concert。 Something so
formal and arrangé in her air！ and she sits so upright！ My best
love； of course。”
“And mine；” added Sir Walter。 “Kindest regards。 And you may
say； that I mean to call upon her soon。 Make a civil message。 But I
shall only leave my card。 Morning visits are never fair by women
at her time of life； who make themselves up so little。 If she would
only wear rouge； she would not be afraid of being seen； but last
time I called； I observed the blinds were let down immediately。”
While her father spoke； there was a knock at the door。 Who
could it be？ Anne； remembering the preconcerted visits； at all
hours； of Mr。 Elliot； would have expected him； but for his known
engagement seven miles off。 After the usual period of suspense；
the usual sounds of approach were heard； and “Mr。 and Mrs。
Charles Musgrove” were ushered into the room。
Surprise was the strongest emotion raised by their appearance；
but Anne was really glad to see them； and the others were not so
sorry but that they could put on a decent air of welcome； and as
soon as it became clear that these； their nearest relations； were not
arrived with any views of accommodation in that house； Sir Walter
and Elizabeth were able to rise in cordiality； and do the honours of
it very well。 They were come to Bath for a few days with Mrs。
Musgrove； and were at the White Hart。 So much was pretty soon
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understood； but till Sir Walter and Elizabeth were walking Mary
into the other drawing…room； and regaling themselves with her
admiration； Anne could not draw upon Charles’s brain for a
regular history of their coming； or an explanation of some smiling
hints of particular business； which had been ostentatiously
dropped by Mary； as well as of some apparent confusion as to
whom their party consisted of。
She then found that it consisted of Mrs。 Musgrove； Henrietta；
and Captain Harville； beside their two selves。 He gave her a very
plain； intelligible account of the whole； a narration in which she
saw a great deal of most characteristic proceeding。 The scheme
had received its first impulse by Captain Harville’s wanting to
come to Bath on business。 He had begun to talk of it a week ago；
and by way of doing something； as shooting was over； Charles had
proposed coming with him； and Mrs。 Harville had seemed to like
the idea of it very much； as an advantage to her husband； but
Mary could not bear to be left； and had made herself so unhappy
about it； that for a day or two everything seemed to be in suspense；
or at an end。 But then； it had been taken up by his father and
mother。 His mother had some old friends in Bath whom she
wanted to see； it was thought a good opportunity for Henrietta to
come and buy wedding…clothes for herself and her sister； and； in
short； it ended in being his mother’s party； that everything might
be comfortable and easy to Captain Harville； and he and Mary
were included in it by way of general convenience。 They had
arrived late the night before。 Mrs。 Harville； her children； and
Captain Benwick； remained with Mr。 Musgrove and Louisa at
Uppercross。
Anne’s only surprise was； that affairs should be in forwardness
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enough for Henrietta’s wedding…clothes to be talked of。 She had
imagined such difficulties of fortune to exist there as must prevent
the marriage from being near at hand； but she learned from
Charles that； very recently （since Mary’s last letter to herself）；
Charles Hayter had been applied to by a friend to hold a living for
a youth who could not possibly claim it under many years； and
that on the strength of his present income； with almost a certainty
of something more permanent long before the term in question；
the two families had consented to the young people’s wishes； and
that their marriage was likely to take place in a few months； quite
as soon as Louisa’s。 “And a very good living it was；” Charles
added： “only five…and…twenty miles from Uppercross； and in a very
fine country—fine part of Dorsetshire。 In the centre of some of the
best preserves in the kingdom； surrounded by three great
proprietors； each more careful and jealous than the other； and to
two of the three at least； Charles Hayter might get a special
recommendation。 Not that