On the morning appointed for Admiral and Mrs Croft's seeing Kellynch

Hall, Anne found it most natural to take her almost daily walk to Lady

Russell's, and keep out of the way till all was over; when she found it

most natural to be sorry that she had missed the opportunity of seeing

them.

This meeting of the two parties proved highly satisfactory, and decided

the whole business at once. Each lady was previously well disposed for

an agreement, and saw nothing, therefore, but good manners in the

other; and with regard to the gentlemen, there was such an hearty good

humour, such an open, trusting liberality on the Admiral's side, as

could not but influence Sir Walter, who had besides been flattered into

his very best and most polished behaviour by Mr Shepherd's assurances

of his being known, by report, to the Admiral, as a model of good

breeding.

The house and grounds, and furniture, were approved, the Crofts were

approved, terms, time, every thing, and every body, was right; and Mr

Shepherd's clerks were set to work, without there having been a single

preliminary difference to modify of all that "This indenture sheweth."

Sir Walter, without hesitation, declared the Admiral to be the

best-looking sailor he had ever met with, and went so far as to say,

that if his own man might have had the arranging of his hair, he should

not be ashamed of being seen with him any where; and the Admiral, with

sympathetic cordiality, observed to his wife as they drove back through

the park, "I thought we should soon come to a deal, my dear, in spite

of what they told us at Taunton. The Baronet will never set the Thames

on fire, but there seems to be no harm in him."--reciprocal

compliments, which would have been esteemed about equal.

The Crofts were to have possession at Michaelmas; and as Sir Walter

proposed removing to Bath in the course of the preceding month, there

was no time to be lost in making every dependent arrangement.

Lady Russell, convinced that Anne would not be allowed to be of any

use, or any importance, in the choice of the house which they were

going to secure, was very unwilling to have her hurried away so soon,

and wanted to make it possible for her to stay behind till she might

convey her to Bath herself after Christmas; but having engagements of

her own which must take her from Kellynch for several weeks, she was

unable to give the full invitation she wished, and Anne though dreading

the possible heats of September in all the white glare of Bath, and

grieving to forego all the influence so sweet and so sad of the

autumnal months in the country, did not think that, everything

considered, she wished to remain. It would be most right, and most

wise, and, therefore must involve least suffering to go with the others.




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