Something occurred, however, to give her a different duty. Mary, often

a little unwell, and always thinking a great deal of her own

complaints, and always in the habit of claiming Anne when anything was

the matter, was indisposed; and foreseeing that she should not have a

day's health all the autumn, entreated, or rather required her, for it

was hardly entreaty, to come to Uppercross Cottage, and bear her

company as long as she should want her, instead of going to Bath.

"I cannot possibly do without Anne," was Mary's reasoning; and

Elizabeth's reply was, "Then I am sure Anne had better stay, for nobody

will want her in Bath."

To be claimed as a good, though in an improper style, is at least

better than being rejected as no good at all; and Anne, glad to be

thought of some use, glad to have anything marked out as a duty, and

certainly not sorry to have the scene of it in the country, and her own

dear country, readily agreed to stay.

This invitation of Mary's removed all Lady Russell's difficulties, and

it was consequently soon settled that Anne should not go to Bath till

Lady Russell took her, and that all the intervening time should be

divided between Uppercross Cottage and Kellynch Lodge.

So far all was perfectly right; but Lady Russell was almost startled by

the wrong of one part of the Kellynch Hall plan, when it burst on her,

which was, Mrs Clay's being engaged to go to Bath with Sir Walter and

Elizabeth, as a most important and valuable assistant to the latter in

all the business before her. Lady Russell was extremely sorry that

such a measure should have been resorted to at all, wondered, grieved,

and feared; and the affront it contained to Anne, in Mrs Clay's being

of so much use, while Anne could be of none, was a very sore

aggravation.

Anne herself was become hardened to such affronts; but she felt the

imprudence of the arrangement quite as keenly as Lady Russell. With a

great deal of quiet observation, and a knowledge, which she often

wished less, of her father's character, she was sensible that results

the most serious to his family from the intimacy were more than

possible. She did not imagine that her father had at present an idea

of the kind. Mrs Clay had freckles, and a projecting tooth, and a

clumsy wrist, which he was continually making severe remarks upon, in

her absence; but she was young, and certainly altogether well-looking,

and possessed, in an acute mind and assiduous pleasing manners,

infinitely more dangerous attractions than any merely personal might

have been. Anne was so impressed by the degree of their danger, that

she could not excuse herself from trying to make it perceptible to her

sister. She had little hope of success; but Elizabeth, who in the

event of such a reverse would be so much more to be pitied than

herself, should never, she thought, have reason to reproach her for

giving no warning.




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