"Well, I am very glad indeed: but I always thought you would have it;

I always thought you sure. It did not appear to me that--in short, you

know, Dr Shirley must have a curate, and you had secured his promise.

Is he coming, Louisa?"

One morning, very soon after the dinner at the Musgroves, at which Anne

had not been present, Captain Wentworth walked into the drawing-room at

the Cottage, where were only herself and the little invalid Charles,

who was lying on the sofa.

The surprise of finding himself almost alone with Anne Elliot, deprived

his manners of their usual composure: he started, and could only say,

"I thought the Miss Musgroves had been here: Mrs Musgrove told me I

should find them here," before he walked to the window to recollect

himself, and feel how he ought to behave.

"They are up stairs with my sister: they will be down in a few

moments, I dare say," had been Anne's reply, in all the confusion that

was natural; and if the child had not called her to come and do

something for him, she would have been out of the room the next moment,

and released Captain Wentworth as well as herself.

He continued at the window; and after calmly and politely saying, "I

hope the little boy is better," was silent.

She was obliged to kneel down by the sofa, and remain there to satisfy

her patient; and thus they continued a few minutes, when, to her very

great satisfaction, she heard some other person crossing the little

vestibule. She hoped, on turning her head, to see the master of the

house; but it proved to be one much less calculated for making matters

easy--Charles Hayter, probably not at all better pleased by the sight

of Captain Wentworth than Captain Wentworth had been by the sight of

Anne.

She only attempted to say, "How do you do? Will you not sit down? The

others will be here presently."

Captain Wentworth, however, came from his window, apparently not

ill-disposed for conversation; but Charles Hayter soon put an end to

his attempts by seating himself near the table, and taking up the

newspaper; and Captain Wentworth returned to his window.

Another minute brought another addition. The younger boy, a remarkable

stout, forward child, of two years old, having got the door opened for

him by some one without, made his determined appearance among them, and

went straight to the sofa to see what was going on, and put in his

claim to anything good that might be giving away.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024