Again, it was Mary's complaint, that Mrs Musgrove was very apt not to

give her the precedence that was her due, when they dined at the Great

House with other families; and she did not see any reason why she was

to be considered so much at home as to lose her place. And one day

when Anne was walking with only the Musgroves, one of them after

talking of rank, people of rank, and jealousy of rank, said, "I have no

scruple of observing to you, how nonsensical some persons are about

their place, because all the world knows how easy and indifferent you

are about it; but I wish anybody could give Mary a hint that it would

be a great deal better if she were not so very tenacious, especially if

she would not be always putting herself forward to take place of mamma.

Nobody doubts her right to have precedence of mamma, but it would be

more becoming in her not to be always insisting on it. It is not that

mamma cares about it the least in the world, but I know it is taken

notice of by many persons."

How was Anne to set all these matters to rights? She could do little

more than listen patiently, soften every grievance, and excuse each to

the other; give them all hints of the forbearance necessary between

such near neighbours, and make those hints broadest which were meant

for her sister's benefit.

In all other respects, her visit began and proceeded very well. Her

own spirits improved by change of place and subject, by being removed

three miles from Kellynch; Mary's ailments lessened by having a

constant companion, and their daily intercourse with the other family,

since there was neither superior affection, confidence, nor employment

in the cottage, to be interrupted by it, was rather an advantage. It

was certainly carried nearly as far as possible, for they met every

morning, and hardly ever spent an evening asunder; but she believed

they should not have done so well without the sight of Mr and Mrs

Musgrove's respectable forms in the usual places, or without the

talking, laughing, and singing of their daughters.

She played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves, but

having no voice, no knowledge of the harp, and no fond parents, to sit

by and fancy themselves delighted, her performance was little thought

of, only out of civility, or to refresh the others, as she was well

aware. She knew that when she played she was giving pleasure only to

herself; but this was no new sensation. Excepting one short period of

her life, she had never, since the age of fourteen, never since the

loss of her dear mother, known the happiness of being listened to, or

encouraged by any just appreciation or real taste. In music she had

been always used to feel alone in the world; and Mr and Mrs Musgrove's

fond partiality for their own daughters' performance, and total

indifference to any other person's, gave her much more pleasure for

their sakes, than mortification for her own.




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